“I’m Not Really Sure of What Exists Here”: Frontline Perspectives on Services for Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence

Authors

Jennifer L. McArthur, Dalhousie University Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
Kayla J. Goruk, Dalhousie University Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
Julie Blais, Dalhousie University Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
Alexa Dodge, Saint Mary's University Department of Criminology
Suzie Dunn, Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

Keywords

Technology-facilitated sexual violence, TFSV, TFSV service provision, support, imagebased abuse, online sexual harassment, cyberstalking, victim-survivors

Abstract

Technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) is a pervasive issue, yet research on the availability, accessibility, and effectiveness of services for TFSV victimsurvivors remains limited, particularly in Canada. This qualitative study examines the state of service provision for TFSV in Nova Scotia, drawing on insights from 12 interviews with service providers specializing in sexual violence prevention and response. The study explores the availability and nature of services offered to TFSV victim-survivors and the key challenges faced by professionals in providing support. Thematic analysis highlights significant gaps in service provision, including a reliance on generalized approaches, restrictive eligibility criteria that exclude certain victimsurvivors, and a widespread lack of awareness regarding available services. Service providers also reported major challenges to integrating TFSV into existing services, such as the absence of specialized training, inadequate strategies for addressing the technological dimensions of TFSV, and ongoing tensions between generalist and specialized approaches to service delivery. While many existing sexual violence services remain accessible to TFSV victim-survivors, current systems are not fully equipped to address the complexities of technology-facilitated violence. Findings underscore the urgent need for tailored training, expanded eligibility criteria, and specialized resources to improve service provision for TFSV victim-survivors in Nova Scotia and beyond.

Comments

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PubMed: 41320977

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Jennifer L. McArthur, et al, “'I’m Not Really Sure of What Exists Here': Frontline Perspectives on Services for Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence" (2025) 0:0 Journal of Interpersonal Violence 1.