A new study finds that stay-at-home orders increased cases of domestic violence
The coronavirus-induced shutdown has had numerous negative impacts on individuals. Lockdowns and social distancing measures have decimated small businesses, worsened people’s mental health, caused massive job losses, especially among low-income workers, and caused children significant learning losses. Additionally, they have also increased deaths of despair.
As I have written before, it will be a long time before we can fully account for the negative impacts of the coronavirus lockdown. But as more data continues to emerge, evidence indicates that the harms of the lockdown extend to areas beyond previously thought.
New evidence has shown, for instance, that lockdown orders likely increased cases of domestic violence.
A new study from a recently released NBER working paper, for instance, suggests that lockdown orders encouraged drinking at home, which increased the incidence of domestic violence. Other previous studies support this finding.
A Boston 2020 study found an increase in domestic abuse cases between March 11 and May 23 of 2020. And according to the Orlando Sentinel, more victims reached out to Harbor House for protective services between March and December 2020.
What explains this trend?
Research suggests a number of factors for this trend.
For one, lockdowns, coupled with negative economic outcomes, exacerbated factors that likely contribute to violence, such as stress. Additionally, stay-at-home orders severely hampered victims’ ability to escape abusers. As this article explained,
In many situations, COVID-19 mandates require that women remain locked down with their abuser. Friends who women may have previously been able to turn to may no longer be in a position to help, due to social distancing regulations. Women may also be justifiably afraid to leave for fear of exposing themselves and their children to the virus, including going to a shelter — if shelter beds are even available.
Though a little too late, it is a positive thing that numerous states are lifting COVID-19 restrictions. Minnesota should follow suit.