The Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence, Perceived Stress and Quality of Life During and After the First COVID-19-Related Lockdown in Cyprus

Abstract

This study investigates the relationships between intimate partner violence (IPV), perceived stress, and quality of life in Cyprus during  and after the first lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Data was collected from the same participants during the lockdown period and once the restrictions were lifted. A total of 381 participants from the general population of Cyprus (alleged victims, perpetrators, and neither) took part during the lockdown period, while 117 of these participants completed the measures
after the lockdown period. Results: Results indicated that psychological abuse experienced by alleged victims and carried out by alleged perpetrators was greater during the lockdown period than after this period. Across both time points, psychological and physical abuse victimisation and perpetration were predicted only by greater perceived stress, and only more positive psychological health predicted overall quality of life. Conclusions: Discussions of the findings centre on the support we found for increased reports of IPV during the lockdown measures. Finally, we also discuss sampling and methodological reasons for the reason some results were not in the direction expected.