Mothers’ Experiences of Parenting Within the Context of Intimate Partner Violence: Unique Challenges and Resilience

Abstract

Maternal and child health are strongly linked, particularly in the presence of intimate partner violence (IPV). Women who experience IPV are at increased risk of negative physical and mental health difficulties. However, little is known about the experience of mothering within the context of IPV and what mothers perceive as contributing to resilience. This study had two aims. First, to explore women’s experience and perceived challenges associated with being a mother within the context of being in a relationship where IPV is being used. Second, to explore what mothers found helpful in coping during this experience. A nested qualitative sub-study was conducted within a prospective study of mothers during pregnancy and following the birth of their first child. Nine women who reported experiencing IPV since becoming pregnant with their first child participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews, which were then transcribed and analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Three subthemes emerged within the theme of unique challenges experienced by mothers. These were partner control over parenting, other disrespectful and controlling behavior, and emotional exhaustion. Within the theme of mothers’ sense of resilience and coping, career development, making sense of experiences, focusing on children, and help-seeking played important roles in helping mothers manage these difficulties. Our findings highlighted the impact that IPV can have on the experience of mothering and the importance of prioritizing women’s health and well-being. Finally, these findings emphasize the importance of health-care professionals identifying and acknowledging the signs of IPV to support women to speak out about their experiences.

Facilitators to Engagement in a Mother–Child Therapeutic Intervention Following Intimate Partner Violence

“…Others reported that their children would become upset following visits with their father, making it more difficult to discuss the occurrence of violence within sessions. Research demonstrates that perpetrators of IPV often use children to continue to exert control over their ex-partners following separation (Fogarty et al, 2019;Radford & Hester, 2006). When contact with fathers is unwanted by children and/or women and control tactics are being utilized, women's sense of power and efficacy in their ability to support their children is likely to be diminished.…”

Women Facing Psychological Abuse: How Do They Respond to Maternal Identity Humiliation and Body Shaming?

“…Staying in a relationship marked by frustration, self-sacrifice, and the couple’s lack of retribution might lead to aggressions from the woman to her partner in violent emotional explosions [ 30 ]. This aggression is most likely to happen when the situation threatens women’s maternal identity [ 15 , 16 , 49 ].…”

“…Thus, female victims of violence generally use passive coping strategies such as wishful thinking, seeking social support, and emotional avoidance to face the abusive situation [ 48 ]. However, women who use confrontation and aggression to solve conflicts, instead of leaving the relationship, are at higher risk of suffering domestic violence [ 49 ]. Early maladaptive schemes and coping strategies are two main factors that affect personal decisions.…”

Intervention programme for fathers who use domestic and family violence: Results from an evaluation of Caring Dads

“…This may be due to a number of factors, ranging from being physically incapacitated due to the need to recover from injuries to lacking emotional presence where victims' day‐to‐day lives are preoccupied by coping with trauma and minimizing ongoing risk to themselves and their children (Meyer, 2018). While DFV does not affect all victim–parents equally, many experience the strategic undermining of the parent–child relationship as part of the ‘perpetrator toolbox’ (Fogarty et al, 2019; Meyer & Stambe, 2020). Research has therefore begun to highlight the need to address perpetrator accountability within the co‐parent and parent–child relationship (Featherstone & Fraser, 2012; Humphreys & Campo, 2017; Labarre et al, 2016; Stover & Morgos, 2013).…”

“…In addition to the impact of fathers' use of DFV against the other parent or carer on children's development and well-being, fathers' use of DFV has far-reaching consequences for the victim-parent/carer. Aside from the well-established range of adverse effects of DFV on victims' immediate safety and well-being (AIHW, 2018;Wong & Mellor, 2014), evidence suggests that experiences of DFV can negatively affect a victim's parenting capacity (Fogarty et al, 2019). This may be due to a number of factors, ranging from being physically incapacitated due to the need to recover from injuries to lacking emotional presence where victims' day-to-day lives are preoccupied by coping with trauma and minimizing ongoing risk to themselves and their children (Meyer, 2018).…”