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The special issue of the Journal of Gender-Based Violence is out! Volume 10 (2026): Issue 2 (Apr 2026): Special issue: Vicarious trauma prevention for gender-based violence researchers. Guest edited by Molly Dragiewicz and Bethany Backes.

https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journals/jgbv/10/2/jgbv.10.issue-2.xml

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This special issue highlights research and strategies for researcher and student training to identify and address vicarious trauma throughout the research process. As the field of gender-based violence research expands, so does the number of researchers and graduate students exposed to vicarious trauma. Doing research on trauma often includes learning about survivors’ experiences, which can have a cumulative effect on researchers. Vicarious trauma can result from engagement with survivors, victims’ loved ones, perpetrators,  and the institutions charged with responding to violence and abuse. In addition, many GBV researchers have lived experience which can affect the experience of vicarious trauma. This special issue provides a new knowledge base on vicarious trauma prevention to better address vicarious trauma for emerging and experienced researchers.

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Editor's Introduction

Dragiewicz, M., & Backes, B. (2026). Introduction to the special issue on vicarious trauma prevention for gender-based violence researchers. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 10(2), 191–199. https://doi.org/10.1332/23986808Y2025D000000113

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Research Articles

Campbell, R., & Goodman-Williams, R. (2026). One after another: Vicarious trauma associated with archival record coding in sexual assault research. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 10(2), 200–218. https://doi.org/10.1332/23986808Y2025D000000088

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Bates, L., Taylor-Dunn, H., & Beckett, H. (2026). Moving beyond the physical: How higher education institute ethics processes do and should address the emotional risks of gender-based violence research. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 10(2), 219–239. https://doi.org/10.1332/23986808Y2025D000000098

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Paruk, J., Rhode, S., Molocznik, A., Christy, A., Knoepke, C. E., Kapoor, R., Frattaroli, S., & Zeoli, A. M. (2026). Research assistant perspectives on strategies to reduce the likelihood of experiencing vicarious trauma. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 10(2), 240–252. https://doi.org/10.1332/23986808Y2025D000000078

 

Redmond, T., Lake, A., Dieseth, T., Horeck, T., & Lundrigan, S. (2026). The wellbeing of researchers of sensitive and emotionally challenging topics. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 10(2), 253–272. https://doi.org/10.1332/23986808Y2025D000000101

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Rasmussen, E. L., & Bjørnholt, M. (2026). The personal, academic and political dimensions of researching domestic violence: An autoethnographic exploration. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 10(2), 273–294. https://doi.org/10.1332/23986808Y2025D000000114​

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Policy and Practice​

Kuruppu, J., Orr, E., & Rockowitz, S. (2026). Supporting researcher resilience in emotionally demanding research work: Building and sustaining an international community of practice. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 10(2), 295–306. https://doi.org/10.1332/23986808Y2025D000000079

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Zschomler, S., McQuaid, K., & Mannell, J. (2026). Researcher wellbeing: Co-developing a toolkit to mitigate against vicarious trauma across the UK research sector. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 10(2), 307–318. https://doi.org/10.1332/23986808Y2025D000000107

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Ratajczak, K., & Clevenger, S. (2026). Applying trauma-informed care principles to assist gender-based violence researchers and students. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 10(2), 319–327. https://doi.org/10.1332/23986808Y2025D000000111

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Open Space

McMahon, S. M., Todić, J., & Christensen, M. C. (2026). Preventing vicarious trauma through the research process as healing justice praxis. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 10(2), 328–339. https://doi.org/10.1332/23986808Y2025D000000102​

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Ullman, S. E. (2026). Strategies for facilitating support, self-care, and well-being of research team members studying sexual assault: 30 years of lessons learned. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 10(2), 340–348. https://doi.org/10.1332/23986808Y2025D000000069

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Thank you so much to everyone who submitted abstracts for the special issue! We received 72 abstracts from 11 countries for this special issue, demonstrating the high level of interest in this topic.​

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