Scoping review findings

• Previous Page
• Table of Contents
• Next Page

The database search returned 31,372 total references. Following the automated removal of 1,040 duplicates, the first level of screening (title and abstract review) included 30,332 records. Then, these 30,332 records were screened, resulting in 30,074 being deemed irrelevant (i.e., screened out) by reviewers. This resulted in 258 references being eligible for the second level of screening (full text review). The authors reviewed each article and included those which met the inclusion criteria, resulting in a final total of 162 articles. Please see Figure 1 for the PRISMA diagram, which visually depicts the flow of information through the different phases of a scoping review.

Figure 1: PRISMA Diagram - Text version

Figure 1 depicts a vertical flow chart moving top to bottom, with blue arrows pointing between white text boxes. The diagram depicts the flow of information through the different phases of a scoping review. The first text box reads: Records identified through database searching (n=31,372). The second text box below states: Records after duplicates removed (n=30,332). The third text box states: Records screened (n=30,332). The fourth text box reads: Full text articles assessed for inclusion (n=258). The fifth text both states: Studies included via secondary search strategies (n=22) and the sixth text box reads: Studies included in the final report (n=162). Directly to the right of the third text box (which reads: Records screened [n=30,332]) is a blue arrow pointing to another text box beside it. This text box reads: Records excluded (n=30,074). Directly to the right of the fourth text box (which reads: Full text articles assessed for inclusion [n=258]) is a blue arrow pointing to another text box beside it. This text box reads: Full text articles excluded (n=118).

Summary of scoping review findings

The scoping review resulted in a final sample of 162 studies; Table 1 provides a summary of key information from the included studies. In terms of timing, the majority of studies were published after 2015, which suggests that research in this area is increasing. Of the included studies, 44% were conducted in Spain and another third were conducted in the United States and the United Kingdom, while only three studies were conducted in Canada (1.9% of the sample).

Most studies focused on assessing prevalence, risk factors, and the context of CPVA, followed by studies examining responses to CPVA in the community and interventions designed to address the issue. The next largest group of studies documented the experiences of CPVA, particularly for parents and caregivers. Nearly 72% of studies were quantitative, with smaller proportions of qualitative and mixed methods studies. The included studies also varied in terms of the primary populations from which their sample was drawn. Almost 40% of studies sampled from the general population, typically from schools (including universities). Nearly a quarter of the studies sampled from a criminal justice population, that consisted of adolescents with police contact or who were charged, detained, or incarcerated for a criminal offence. The next largest group of studies included samples of parents or caregivers who were experiencing CPVA.

Since this project utilized the scoping review methodology to answer specific research questions, we identified how each study contributed findings or recommendations related to each question. As previously noted, there were very few empirical studies conducted in Canada. On the other hand, more than half of the studies provided information about the impact of sociodemographic factors on the likelihood and risk factors for CPVA. Several studies helped to explain under-reporting of CPVA and relatively limited research in this area compared to other forms of family violence. Over a quarter of the studies evaluated or discussed protocols, policies, responses, and interventions for addressing CPVA and another 13.6% focused on criminal justice responses. Only two studies had an explicit focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its related public health restrictions on CPVA.

• Previous Page
• Table of Contents
• Next Page