Domestic Violence: Would you know where to get help?


This survey is part of a PhD study which is exploring the knowledge people have on help seeking interventions in relation to domestic violence.

Domestic violence is a very common problem in relationships and families but often people do not recognise it when it is happening to them or someone they know and/or do not know what to do about it or where to get help. This survey is an attempt to understand why this is and you do not have to have experienced domestic violence to take part in this survey. The questions ask you about what you understand by domestic violence and what you know about where to go for help if you or someone you know did or has experienced domestic violence. The survey is anonymous but there is an opportunity at the end for you to volunteer to take part in an interview to explore your opinions and/or experiences in more depth. You do not have to take part in the interviews if you complete the questionnaire.

The study has been given approval by the University of Sunderland Ethics Committee. If you have any questions about this study please contact Angela.wilcock@sunderland.ac.uk . If you have any concerns about this questionnaire please contact Catherine.donovan@sunderland.ac.uk

To complete the survey drop down lists, text boxes and radio buttons are offered enabling you to answer each question.


Section 1 - About You

1. Your age:

2. Your gender:

3. Your ethnicity:

4. What is your religious background?

5. Do you practice your faith? Yes
No

6. Is English your first language? Yes
No

7. Your Sexuality:

8. Are you in paid employment? Yes
No

8a. If 'Yes', do you work Full-time
Part-time

9. Household income:

10. What is your highest qualification?

11. Accommodation:

12. Do you parent children? Yes
No

12a. Do they live with you? Yes
No
Sometimes

Section 2 - Relationships

13. Are you currently in a relationship? Yes
No

14. Are you:

15. How long have you been in your current or last relationship?

Section 3 - Definition

16. What do you think domestic violence is?

17. From the behaviours listed below do you recognise any of them as being an act of domestic violence?
Financial Behaviour
No
Not sure
Having your money controlled
Income withheld
Spending monitored
Only being given money when your partner decides you need it
Emotional Behaviour
No
Not sure
Being isolated from family/friends
Being regularly insulted or put down
Being constantly criticised
Being told you are worthless/useless
Being told you are a terrible partner/wife/mother/husband/father
Being blamed when things go wrong even when it is clearly not your fault
Having threats to harm someone close to you
Having threats to harm you
Having your property damaged or with held
Being told how to dress or do your hair
Having malicious or nuisance phone calls
Emotional Behaviour aimed at children
No
Not sure
Having threats against them
Being threatened with losing your children
Having threats to prevent you seeing them
Having your children hurt
Sexual Behaviour
No
Not sure
Being threatened with sexual abuse
Experiencing sexual assault
Being raped
Being touched sexually in ways that make you fearful
Being coerced into group sex
Being coerced into sex when you really don't want to
Have sex to keep the peace
Being forced to watch pornography
Physical Behaviour
No
Not sure
Being physically threatened
Being slapped/pushed/shoved
Being kicked or punched
Being bitten
Being burned
Being stabbed
Being held down/restrained/tied up
Being choked/strangled/suffocated
Being hit with an object or weapon
Being threatened with an object or weapon
Being prevented from getting help for injuries
Being stalked or followed by a partner
Being stalked or followed by an ex-partner
Being locked in a house or room by partner

18. Do you consider ANY of the (financial, emotional, sexual or physical) behaviours listed as being a crime? Yes
No

18a. If 'Yes', which?
Behaviour
All
None
Financial
Emotional
Sexual
Physical


Section 4 - Seeking Help

19. If help from outside the family was needed in relation to any of the behaviours listed, would you know who your local support agencies are? (If 'No', move to question 22) Yes
No

20. If 'Yes', who might you think to call? (Please list)

21. Do you know how to contact them? Yes
No

22. Which of the following would you consider approaching for advice/support in relation to domestic violence? (Please put them in order in which you would approach them for help commencing with number 1) Relatives
Friends
Colleagues
Neighbours
Health Worker
Social Services
Police
Legal advice
Local community advice centre
Benefit agency
Counsellor
Specialist voluntary agency
Housing Department
Doctor/GP
Religious leader
Community Leader
Victim Support
None
Other reason

23. Most people say that they would talk to their family and/or friends first if they were experiencing domestic violence. Do you agree with this? Yes - Please go to Q25
No

24. If 'No', I am interested in knowing more about why people may or may not seek help for domestic violence. If you would not speak to your family/friends about this could you look at the following list of reasons why not and tick all that are relevant: It's a private matter/nobody else's business
I would worry that I wouldn't be believed
I would worry that it might be thought too trivial
I would fear it may get worse if I tell somebody
I don't think others can help with problems like domestic violence
I would fear it would not be taken seriously
I would be too ashamed/humiliated
I would not want to involve my family/friends
I've heard that you don't get a good response from family/friends
Other reason

25. Do you think you would find it easier to speak to the police? Yes - Please go to Q27
No

26. If 'No', please could you look at the following list and say why you would not speak to the police: It's a private matter/nobody else's business
I would be too ashamed/humiliated
I would worry that I wouldn't be believed
I would worry that it might be thought too trivial
I would fear it may get worse if I tell somebody
I don't think others can help with problems like domestic violence
I would fear it would not be taken seriously
I would worry I was wasting their time
I would not want to involve the police
I don't think they deal with domestic disputes
I've heard that you don't get a good response from the police
Other reason

27. Would you approach domestic violence agencies? e.g. Wearside Women In Need Yes - Please go to Q29
No

28. If 'No', could you look at the following list of reasons why not and select all that are relevant: It's a private matter/nobody else's business
I would worry that I wouldn't be believed
I would worry that it might be thought too trivial
I would fear it may get worse if I tell somebody
I don't think others can help with problems like domestic violence
I would fear it would not be taken seriously
I would worry I was wasting their time
I would not know how to contact or find them
I would worry I had to pay for services
I would not want to involve agencies at all
I've heard that you don't get a good response from domestic violence agencies

29. Would you prefer to approach more formal agencies such as a health visitor or your GP? Yes - Please go to Q31
No

30. If 'No', look at the following list of reasons why not and select all that are relevant: It's a private matter/nobody else's business
I would worry that I wouldn't be believed
I would worry that it might be thought too trivial
I would fear it may get worse if I tell somebody
I don't think others can help with problems like domestic violence
I would fear it would not be taken seriously
I would worry I may be wasting their time
I would worry that they may tell or involve someone else
I don't think they would be interested in my problems
I would not want to involve anyone else
Other reason

31. Would you speak to someone more informal like a work colleagues, religious leader? Yes - Please go to Q33
No

32. If 'No', look at the following list of reasons why not and select all that are relevant: It's a private matter/nobody else's business
I would worry that I wouldn't be believed
I would worry that it might be thought too trivial
I would fear it may get worse if I tell somebody
I don't think others can help with problems like domestic violence
I would fear it would not be taken seriously
I would worry I may be wasting their time
I would worry that they may tell or involve someone else
I don't think they would be interested in my problems
I would not want to involve anyone else
Other reason

33. If you would not speak to anyone regarding experiences of domestic violence would you select the reasons as to why not that from the following list? It's a private matter/nobody else's business
I would worry that I wouldn't be believed
I would worry that it might be thought too trivial
I would worry I was wasting their time
I would be too ashamed/humiliated
I would be frightened about what would happen when it all came out
I would be too worried in case I lost everything
I would worry that they may tell or involve someone else
I've heard that you don't get a good response from people
I don't want to be judged or labelled as a 'victim'

34. At what point do you think help outside the family may be needed? (More than one can be selected) Immediately
If it happened more than once
If I was injured
If it was a serious assault
Other reason

35. Have you recently seen for example, a leaflet, poster, sticker, television programme, advertisement or magazine article highlighting help for domestic violence? Yes
No
Not sure

36. If 'Yes', what?

Section 5 - Your Opinions

37. Do you think there are enough services to support people experiencing domestic violence? Yes
No
Don't know
Not sure

38. What do you think would be an effective way of supporting people experiencing domestic violence?

39. Do you think that the general public receive enough information about all behaviours associated with domestic violence? Yes
No
Not enough
Too much

40. What would you suggest as an effective way of raising awareness in society about the behaviours associated with domestic violence?

Further request for help

Thank you sincerely for taking part in this survey. I would also like to conduct one to one interviews with people who have answered the questionnaire. In these interviews I want to explore help-seeking in more detail and your opinions about whether and when people seek help for domestic violence regardless of your actual experiences. Interviews will take place in early spring 2010 and will take no more than an hour to complete. If you would be willing to take part in an interview in which you will remain anonymous please let me know how I can contact you. Your contact details will remain confidential, only being seen by myself. (Please advise of the best time and way to contact you)

Name:
Address:
Telephone number
Email
How and when to contact you:


Further request for help

National Domestic Violence
Freephone helpline (24hrs)
0808 2000 247
Support for anyone experiencing domestic violence		 Wearside Women In Need
Sunderland
0800 066 5555
24 Hour Domestic Violence Helpline
Women's Aid Federation of England
0808 2000 247
For women and men experiencing
domestic violence

Broken Rainbow
07812 644 914
Services for LGBT people experiencing
domestic violence

Age Concern
Freephone Helpline
0800 009966
 The Samaritans
08457 90 90 90
Emotional support for everyone
Victim Support
0845 3030 900
Emotional support and referral service
for victims of crime		 NSPCC
0808 860 5000
Advice for all young people
and parents
Rape Crises
The Reach Centres Ellis Fraser Centre in
Sunderland
Tel: 0191 565 3725
http://www.reachcentre.org.uk/ 		Shelter
0844 4994717
Tyneside Housing Aid Shelter




THANK YOU FOR TAKING PART IN THIS SURVEY. YOUR VIEWS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Please press the "Submit Survey" button below

   
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