#Domestic Violence Isn't Stopping for Coronavirus .......: Intimate Partner Violence Conversations on Twitter during the Early Days of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose: Intimate partner violence (IPV) became a cause of growing concern due to the shelter-in-place orders during COVID-19. Social media has been utilized to share information and communicate during national emergencies and disasters. Our goal was to analyze data from Twitter to examine the types of IPV conversations during the early days of the pandemic. Method: Of the tweets we collected between March 19 and April 19, 2020, a 10% sample was chosen (n = 3,506). We utilized content analysis to identify our themes and categories. Results: Five themes were identified: (a) increase in IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact, (b) resources to help victims and abusers of IPV during COVID-19, (c) general discussion about IPV, (d) experience of IPV, (e) Others. Conclusion: We discuss implications for social work professionals and how social media can be utilized for prevention efforts. Directions for future research and innovation are highlighted.

Automated summary

The study analyzed discussions about intimate partner violence on Twitter during the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying five main themes including the increase and impact of violence, resources for support, general discussions, personal experiences, and others. The study highlighted the potential role of social media in preventing intimate partner violence and emphasized directions for future research and innovation.