What is it about?
Creating a way to measure how ready friends and family are to help someone experiencing domestic violence is crucial for supporting victims effectively. The study introduces a new tool called the Informal Supporter Readiness Inventory (ISRI), which helps to understand how prepared people are to offer support in such situations. This tool is based on extensive research and is designed to capture various aspects of readiness, including personal beliefs about domestic violence, the influence of social norms, and the specific situation of the survivor and the perpetrator. By understanding the factors that motivate or hinder people from offering help, this tool can guide in tailoring support interventions more effectively, ensuring that survivors of domestic violence receive the help they need from their social networks.
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Why is it important?
This research addresses a gap in how we understand and support survivors of domestic violence through their informal networks. It introduces the Informal Supporter Readiness Inventory (ISRI), a tool that measures the readiness of friends and family to offer help, focusing on emotional, situational, and normative factors. This is particularly timely given the global rise in domestic violence, highlighted during COVID-19 lockdowns. By examining the preparedness of informal supporters, this study shifts towards a community-centered approach, empowering survivors and their networks for a more cohesive response to domestic violence.
Perspectives
As part of the research team behind this study, I am deeply motivated by the chance to positively impact the lives of survivors of domestic violence. Creating the Informal Supporter Readiness Inventory (ISRI) transcended academic goals, becoming a mission to unravel and improve the support systems surrounding survivors. I hold a firm belief that by equipping informal supporters with the necessary insights and tools, we can build a robust safety network for survivors, demonstrating my dedication to nurturing resilience and healing within these communities.
Ryan Davies
University of New England
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Development and validation of the Informal Supporter Readiness Inventory (ISRI), PLoS ONE, March 2024, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296770.
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