Interpersonal violence affects an untold number of Nebraskans. Too often, victims of physical, sexual and psychological violence, especially among youth and minority populations, do not have adequate support. And communities may lack appropriate training to safely intervene when those they care about are at risk for intimate partner abuse.
A new research lab at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is leveraging collaboration and partnership to reduce these pervasive issues in Nebraska and beyond — and to promote recovery among survivors, particularly adolescents and young adults.
Directed by Katie Edwards, associate professor at the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, the Interpersonal Violence Research Laboratory focuses on translating research into meaningful, evidence-based prevention, intervention and policy efforts.
Since joining the faculty in August, Edwards has been building the lab’s membership, making connections with campus and community partners, and recruiting participants across the state and in the surrounding region to develop effective and culturally and developmentally appropriate solutions.
“With the Interpersonal Violence Research Laboratory established in CYFS, we’re well-positioned to work with Nebraska’s students, community members, schools, practitioners and others to make our schools and communities safer for all individuals,” Edwards said.
Edwards is a clinical psychologist and brings with her an interdisciplinary research background and ongoing studies supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Justice, the National Science Foundation and others — all focused on better understanding the causes and consequences of interpersonal violence, primarily intimate partner violence and sexual assault among adolescents and young adults.
“We all have a role to play in ending violence — violence is preventable.”
Katie Edwards, CYFS associate professor
Researchers in the lab are working to better understand risk and protective factors for sexual assault and intimate partner violence perpetration and victimization; factors that help or hinder taking action to prevent violence, such as bystander intervention; the complexities of leaving an abusive relationship; and how participants react to being part of research that studies deeply personal experiences with partner violence.
Edwards has a strong desire to work with Nebraska’s communities to drive change.
“I am eager to connect with school districts here in Nebraska and to work with them on identifying locally generated solutions for violence prevention and positive youth development,” Edwards said.
The lab is also committed to engaging students in all phases of the research.
“We’re recruiting undergraduate and graduate students to assist in the lab’s research, including study conceptualization and design, data collection and analysis, and dissemination of findings,” Edwards said.
In the future, Edwards hopes to expand the lab’s work globally, and online.
“There is potential to bring our research to international settings, and to create a web-based violence prevention program for LGBQ+ youth here in the U.S.,” she said.
There is one thing Edwards would like everyone to know about intimate partner violence, particularly during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month:
“We all have a role to play in ending violence — violence is preventable.”
Learn more about the Interpersonal Violence Research Laboratory online, including how to become involved in the research.