Subtle or covert abuse within intimate partner relationships: A scoping review

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global health problem enacted with varying degrees of severity, leading to mental and physical damage. Despite the acknowledgement that perpetration can be enacted in a subtle or covert way, there is a paucity of literature defining and describing such subtle abuse. Consequently, understanding about the behaviours and impacts of subtle abuse is limited, and there is a potential inability by therapists to recognise it in their clients. This scoping review sought to identify and synthesise the literature around subtle or covert abuse (SCA) in intimate adult relationships to clarify the concept, with the aim to aid professional recognition. PsychINFO (EBSCO), MEDLINE Complete (EBSCO), CINAHL (EBSCO), PsychArticles (EBSCO), Scopus, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global and EThOS were searched using relevant search terms. In total, 19 studies met the inclusion criteria by containing a description or definition of abuse based on primary research with adults in intimate partner relationships. Findings were synthesised using descriptive content analysis under four headings: 1. Descriptions and groupings of SCA behaviours, 2. The impact of SCA on victims, 3. Underlying theories of SCA and 4. Recognition by professionals. This review suggests that SCA may be the most damaging of all abuses.