AWhen screams go unheard: covert violence, women victims, and social denial

Covert violence-defined as a pattern of subtle, intentionally hidden, and socially camouflaged abusive behaviors that systematically erode a victim's reality, autonomy, and self-worth-remains a critically understudied dimension of gender-based violence. Distinct from overt psychological aggression, covert violence operates through tactics such as gaslighting, micro-invalidations, coercive control, and economic manipulation, often evading detection while inflicting profound harm. This scoping review systematically maps the evidence on its manifestations, psychosocial impacts, and the mechanisms of institutional and cultural denial that compound women's victimization.

Following Arksey & O'Malley's framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we conducted systematic searches across five databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL) for English-language studies published between 1992 and 2025. The search strategy prioritized terms specific to covert violence (e.g., "covert abuse," "invisible violence," "subtle psychological aggression") alongside related concepts. From 1,325 identified records, 43 resources met inclusion criteria after rigorous screening. Data were extracted into a structured table cataloging study characteristics (design, population, abuse type, key findings) and synthesized thematically.

Covert violence emerges as a complex and multifaceted phenomenon characterized by systemic psychological, emotional, and economic abuse that deeply undermines women's autonomy, mental health, and social functioning. Key manifestations include gaslighting, coercive control, financial restriction, and relational manipulation, which lead to severe mental health outcomes-such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD-as well as physical health deterioration and social isolation. Despite its profound impact, covert violence remains largely invisible and underrecognized due to social denial, cultural minimization, and institutional shortcomings. Barriers to disclosure and support include the absence of physical evidence, fear of retaliation, stigma, and fragmented service systems. Importantly, covert violence frequently intersects with and precedes overt physical abuse, underscoring its role in sustaining cycles of control. Addressing covert violence requires urgent legal reforms to recognize non-physical abuse, trauma-informed training for professionals, integrated support services, and public health initiatives aimed at shifting societal attitudes.

Our analysis reveals covert violence as a widespread and deeply embedded issue sustained by structural indifference and epistemic injustice. To effectively address this problem, multi-level interventions are needed, including the legal recognition of non-physical abuse, specialized training for frontline responders, and public campaigns that challenge the normalization of covert harm. Future research should prioritize longitudinal designs, cross-cultural comparisons, and the evaluation of integrated intervention models, with particular attention to marginalized populations.