Domestic violence in Iran: A literature review

While there is a growing concern about the rise of violence on the streets and the media around the world, the possibility of an individual to be affected by violence at home is an undeniable reality facing most families around the globe. Domestic violence can take many forms including physical, psychological, sexual, and economic. It not only has devastating physical and psychological consequences on its victims, but can seriously damage the foundations of the family leading to its disintegration. Although domestic violence is a worldwide phenomenon, it can have various definitions and rate of incidence according to the culture in which it occurs. Furthermore, unlike Western countries, where for researchers obtaining and accessing information regarding different aspects of family violence is rather straightforward, in non-Western countries it is a formidable challenge because of faulty dissemination of information. Therefore, any attempts by researchers in these countries to address this issue and gather existing data can be of great merit. The purpose of the present paper is to review and to discuss the existing literature on domestic violence in Iran.

Research Highlights► This paper reviews the literature on domestic violence in Iran. ► Perpetrators of wife abuse suffer from psychological and physical disorders. ► Family violence causes running away from home, PTSD, physical injury and others. ► Shortcomings with current research and suggestions for improvement are discussed.