Intimate Partner Violence and Resilience: The Experience of Women in Mother-Child Assisted Living Centers

Chiara Rollero,Federica Speranza

doi:10.3390/ijerph17228318

Abstract

Research has largely documented the damaging consequences of intimate partner violence. However, the literature presents an important gap in the identification of factors that may strengthen resilience in the victims, especially in the case of mothers and pregnant women. The present study aimed at investigating the experience of abused mothers engaged in an educative path in a Mother–Child Assisted Living Center. A qualitative descriptive methodology was used. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of eight women. Four main themes emerged from the interviews: (1) improvement in the mother–child relationship; (2) a process of personal change during the educative path; (3) the rebuilding of trust relationships; and (4) attitudes and hopes toward the future. Taken together, these findings highlight the process of resilience, conceived from a socioecological perspective as the ability to use resources rooted in interconnected systems. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Highlights

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an abuse of power committed by a romantic partner in a relationship or after separation
Four main themes emerged from the interviews: (1) improvement in the mother–child relationship; (2) a process of personal change during the educative path; (3) the rebuilding of trust relationships; and (4) attitudes and hopes toward the future
Women believed that the educative path in the Center allowed them to strengthen and improve the bond with their children

Summary

Introduction

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an abuse of power committed by a romantic partner in a relationship or after separation. It takes several forms, such as emotional abuse, physical and/or sexual violence, intimidation and threats, and social or economic deprivation [1]. In the United States, it is estimated that approximately one in four women have been victims of sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking from their partner in their lifetime [2]. For its prevalence and its physical, psychological, social, and economic consequences, intimate partner violence is considered a salient public health issue [4]

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