Recovery from Childhood Adversity: Exploring the Stories of Turkish Daughters of Domestic Violence Survivors

Abstract

Gendered power relations and patriarchal culture frequently put women at heightened risk of domestic violence (DV) and children at risk of witnessing this violence. By modeling their mother's role, such children may in turn become victims of DV later in life. This study explores the experiences of young married women who grew up in a violent home environment to gain a better understanding of their recovery from the consequences of witnessing DV. Semistructured interviews were conducted with five Turkish women aged 31–45 years and all in nonviolent relationships. An interpretive phenomenological approach was followed in analyzing the interviews. The findings suggest that growing up in a violent home had destructive effects on the participants' lives, although they have avoided a violent home environment as adults. The study highlights that growing up in a violent home influences women's perceptions of the “right” intimate partner and their strategies to cope with conflict in relationships. This article discusses key conditions for breaking the violence cycle and ensuring a satisfying marital relationship.