IRTT factor F9 · Abuse dynamics
Spiritual Abuse and Abuse Linked to Faith or Belief
This factor considers belief used as the abuse itself, a separate question from religion as a source of support or a barrier to help.
The factor
Belief may be used to shame the survivor, through claims that leaving is sinful, control of religious practice or warnings of spiritual consequences.
The Domestic Abuse Act statutory guidance lists the use of sacred or religious texts to coerce or control the survivor as domestic abuse.
Withholding a religious divorce to control and intimidate the survivor is also recognised in statutory guidance as a form of domestic abuse.
At its most serious the survivor is accused of witchcraft, spirit possession or being cursed, or is subjected to harmful rituals, exorcism or deliverance.
Effect on risk
Statutory guidance recognises that faith can be a source of support, and that domestic abuse can also occur in relation to it.
Faith leaders, healers or family members may be involved, so the survivor may face pressure from a whole community as well as from one person.
Children in Need statistics recorded abuse linked to faith or belief as an assessment factor in 2,140 episodes of need in 2022 to 2023.
The Department for Education advises that recording practice varies between local authorities, so the figure does not show national prevalence.
The survivor may fear spiritual harm as deeply as physical harm, and these beliefs can also be directed at children in the household.
Questions for practice
- How is faith, spirituality or belief being used against this survivor, and who in the family or community is involved in it?
- What does the survivor fear will happen spiritually as well as physically, and how seriously has that fear been taken by services so far?
- How can your response address the harm while respecting the survivor's own beliefs, without dismissing or ridiculing what they believe?
- Are there children in the household who may be accused or harmed, and has a safeguarding referral been considered for each of them?
Using the IRTT
Spiritual Abuse is factor F9 in the Intersectional Risk Tracker Tool, which assesses it alongside forty other intersectional risk factors.
Our two-hour session on witchcraft, spirit possession and African traditionalist practices on Thursday 25 February 2027 explores this factor through case study discussion.
Further reading
Related factors
Sources