Making Connections across 30 Years of Family Violence Research: an Introductory Editorial

Excerpt

Over thirty years ago, Drs. Vincent B. Van Hasselt and Michel Hersen launched the Journal of Family Violence (JOFV) to promote research on the significant, pernicious, and widespread problem of violence within the family (Van Hasselt and Hersen 1986). At that time, scholarly attention to family violence was just beginning, and these scholars recognized the need “for a central publication” to disseminate research “on all aspects of family violence” (Van Hasselt and Hersen 1986, p. 2). Accordingly, Drs. Van Hasselt and Hersen were among the first to provide a forum for studies on family violence including child abuse and maltreatment, dating and intimate partner violence (IPV), elder abuse, and others. With notable foresight when establishing JOFV, Drs. Van Hasselt and Hersen acknowledged the connections among the various forms of family violence. Likewise, these scholars asserted the value of bringing to bear various disciplinary and professional perspectives when investigating, preventing, addressing, and understanding family violence in all its varied forms. …