Sherbrooke researcher examines root causes of intimate partner violence
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
A Sherbrooke researcher is taking a deep dive into the root causes of intimate partner violence (IPV) and how to better help those who perpetrate it change their behaviour.
Audrey Brassard, a professor in the Université de Sherbrooke’s Department of Psychology and newly appointed Canada Research Chair in Relationship Distress and Intimate Partner Violence, is leading a wide-ranging research program aimed at understanding why violence happens in intimate relationships and how it can be prevented.
“I’ve been studying intimate relationships since the early 2000s,” Brassard said in an interview with The Record. “Since 2007, I’ve worked in partnership with organizations offering specialized services to perpetrators of IPV. My work focuses on how relationship distress manifests and how we can intervene effectively.”
According to Brassard, the cost of IPV in Canada exceeds $7.4 billion annually, and the long-term impact on both physical and psychological health is significant, contributing to reduced life expectancy and serious emotional trauma.
Her research has shown strong links between experiences of childhood maltreatment—including sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect and bullying—and adult violent behaviour in intimate relationships. “We see a clear intergenerational transmission of violence,” she said. “When these children grow up, they often struggle with secure attachment and emotional regulation, which increases the risk of abusive behaviours later in life.”
Brassard is particularly interested in what makes therapeutic interventions effective. Through her partnership with À cœur d’homme, a Quebec-wide network of over 30 organizations offering services to people who commit IPV, her team collects over 4,000 questionnaires a year. These are used to generate personalized reports identifying individual risk factors and helping tailor support strategies.
Much of the intervention work currently involves group therapy programs that span several months. “Participants meet weekly to discuss their behaviours, learn to identify emotional triggers, and practise alternatives to violence, like non-violent conflict resolution and empathy development,” Brassard explained.
Her Canada Research Chair will fund ongoing studies into two major areas: mechanisms of change (how people shift away from violent behaviour) and moderators of change (what factors make interventions more or less effective for different people).
While 95 per cent of program clients are men, Brassard emphasizes the need for inclusivity. “There are also women and non-binary individuals seeking help for violent behaviours,” she noted. “Our work includes the experiences of people across the gender and sexual diversity spectrum.”
The scope of violence under study is broad: not just physical, but also psychological, sexual, economic, cyber, and controlling behaviours. Brassard warns that many warning signs are psychological before becoming physical: “Jealousy, possessiveness, controlling behaviour, traditional gender role beliefs, and emotional manipulation are all red flags.”
For those concerned about their own behaviour, Brassard recommends reaching out to local organizations through À cœur d’homme or accessing resources online—though she notes the French-language platform “Prends l’air” currently has no English version.
For victims of IPV, support is available through services like SOS Violence Conjugale and the Centre d’aide aux victimes d’actes criminels (CAVAC). “It’s important to know that help is available for both perpetrators and victims—but through entirely separate services,” she stressed.
Ultimately, Brassard hopes her work contributes to a cultural shift: “My dream is to see intimate partner violence decline significantly, and for Quebec to be a leader in this movement,” she said. “The fact that so many people here seek help voluntarily speaks to the power of awareness and the social rejection of violence.”
For more information on Brassard’s work, visit the Canada Research Chair’s website or the Université de Sherbrooke’s media relations office.