THE DARK SIDE OF QUARANTINE

Stay home mandates, job losses, and school closures have put couples and families into close and extended contact, and, unfortunately that means increased opportunity for conflict. In my previous post, I shared mediator techniques that anyone can use to diffuse conflict situations during quarantine, but there is one caution:

It is estimated that some 10 million people experience domestic violence each year in the United States. Prolonged close contact at home and the stress of job losses can put individuals at greater risk for domestic abuse. Research has established a relationship between natural disaster and increased interpersonal violence. For example, Miami’s spousal abuse hotline experienced a 50% increase in calls during and after Hurricane Andrew.

While it has not been widely reported, the number of domestic violence incidents evidently rose sharply in China during its quarantine. In the U.S. the National Domestic Violence Hotline reports increasing calls as stay home mandates expand.

It’s not that stay-home mandates, job losses, and school closures cause peaceful partners and parents to suddenly become abusive. It’s households that have already experienced violence are more likely to do so even more during such times.

Abuse is about power and control—not about rational problem solving. Individuals who find themselves in these situations should plan for emotional and physical safety and seek support. If local resources are difficult to reach at present, call the highly trained advocates available 24/7 at the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.

Individuals should not try to deal with this type of conflict alone.