Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Degree

Master of Arts

Program

Education

Supervisor

Dr. Peter Jaffe

Abstract

Domestic violence (DV) is associated with negative consequences for victims, children, families, and even national economies. More recently, research has demonstrated that DV also has a serious impact on workers and workplaces. Less is known about Canadians’ beliefs toward the impact DV has on workers or the extent to which individuals are able to identify co-workers’ experiences of DV. Using data from a pan-Canadian sample of 7,834 men and women, the current study examined: 1) how prior experiences with DV relates to beliefs toward the impact DV has on workers, 2) how gender and age relates to beliefs toward DV’s impact on workers, 3) the factors associated with identifying co-workers as DV victims and perpetrators. Overall, participants held positive beliefs that acknowledged DV’s impact on workers. Types of prior experiences with DV were found to have a significant relationship with how participants perceived the impact DV has on workers. There were also significant relationships found between gender and age on participants’ beliefs toward the impact DV has on workers. Additionally, the present study found age, gender, and certain types of prior DV experiences were associated with identifying a colleague as a victim or perpetrator of DV. These findings have implications for a how workplaces respond to DV and take into account the need to engage all employees.

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