Mothers’ Ways of Knowing: An Exploratory Study of Abused Mothers’ Perceptions of Their Adolescent Sons’ Reactions to Partner Abuse

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study sought to understand abused mothers’ perceptions of how their adolescent sons (ages 13–17) have been affected by intimate partner violence in the home. In-depth interviews with 10 mothers who resided in battered women’s shelters illuminated four broad themes: (1) violence experienced by mothers; (2) the impact of violence on mothering; (3) sons’ anger, violence, and rage toward fathers and stepfathers; and (4) mothers’ interpretations of their sons’ reactions to being exposed to violence. A significant finding indicated that, although mothers had to cope with partner violence themselves, they were also cognizant of how violence impacted their sons; and as a result. this may have been a motivating factor to seek shelter services, which was a precursor to leaving their abusers.