Critiquing the categorisation and measurement of disability, and family and domestic violence: a scoping review

Abstract

This article examines how disability and family and domestic violence are categorised and measured in existing research, with a focus on women with disability as victim survivors.<br><br>Women with disability are significantly more likely to experience family and domestic violence than women generally, yet prevalence estimates vary widely. This scoping review analyses 43 studies published within a five-year period to assess how effectively research applies intersectional understandings to the measurement of violence.<br><br>Findings indicate that many studies adopt positivist approaches, with limited theoretical framing and insufficient attention to perpetrator data. Methodological limitations constrain the ability to capture nuanced experiences of violence, particularly those shaped by intersecting forms of disadvantage. The article highlights implications for improving the measurement of prevalence and calls for more robust, intersectional approaches to support meaningful social and policy change.