Promoting Wellness and Recovery of Young Women Experiencing Gender-Based Violence and Homelessness: The Role of Trauma-Informed Health Promotion Interventions

Abstract

Little is known regarding the types of interventions most effective in supporting wellness and recovery of victims of gender-based violence, particularly those simultaneously experiencing homelessness. This qualitative study explored the experiences of 18 young women experiencing gender-based violence and homelessness who participated in a community-based, trauma-informed group intervention in Toronto, Canada. Participants completed audio-recorded and transcribed semi-structured interviews, analyzed using thematic content analysis. Participants described valuing the safe, women-only space, shared lived experiences, and tailored psychoeducation and resulting improvements in confidence, coping, health, relationships, and future directedness. Findings suggest community-based, trauma-informed group interventions can facilitate wellness and recovery in this population.

Supporting Female Survivors of Gender-Based Violence Experiencing Homelessness: Outcomes of a Health Promotion Psychoeducation Group Intervention

“…The study, part of a realist informed longitudinal evaluation of a community-based 16-week psychoeducation group intervention, identified improvements in quality of life, capturing physical, psychological health, social relationships, and the overall environment, and reductions in experiences of victimization among female identified youth experiencing GBV and homelessness 12 months following enrolment, with no significant changes in other health and well-being outcomes. Prior qualitative research by our team revealed that participants valued the safe, women-only space, the shared lived experiences, and tailored psychoeducation, suggesting the intervention is acceptable to service users (29). Furthermore, our findings of improved quality of life and reduced experiences of victimization are supported by prior qualitative findings by our team, highlighting perceived improvements in self-confidence, coping, health, interpersonal relationships, and future directedness as a result of program participation (29).…”

“…Prior qualitative research by our team revealed that participants valued the safe, women-only space, the shared lived experiences, and tailored psychoeducation, suggesting the intervention is acceptable to service users (29). Furthermore, our findings of improved quality of life and reduced experiences of victimization are supported by prior qualitative findings by our team, highlighting perceived improvements in self-confidence, coping, health, interpersonal relationships, and future directedness as a result of program participation (29).…”

“…Qualitative methods were used to examine barriers to implementation (28), as well as participant perspectives on the impact of the intervention on their wellness and recovery (29). In these studies, participants described valuing the safe, respectful, women-only space, the multiple shared lived experiences, and tailored psychoeducation, and reported perceived improvements in self-confidence, coping ability, health, relationships, and future directedness, as a result of participation (29). Notably, there were no premature drop-outs from the program during the study period.…”

Process of forgiveness in the recovery of Chinese women survivors of intimate partner violence: Empowerment, transformation, and integration

“…Because recovery of women survivors of IPV is a substantial focus of social care and trauma work practice and policy (e.g., community-based, trauma-informed group interventions) (Allen & Wozniak, 2010;Reid et al, 2020) and forgiveness has been found as one important element in their recovery (Flasch et al, 2017;Yick, 2008), in-depth understanding of forgiveness could contribute more to the practice and policy on their personal healing and recovery. Thus, the present study reported herein was thus to explore the forgiveness process of women survivors of IPV who have left an abusive relationship, including perceived changes (e.g., specific changes in different periods after separation) and the way in which they underwent them.…”

The Design, Content and Delivery of Relationship and Sexuality Education Programmes for People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review of the International Evidence

“…Specifically, in relation to sexual health, the importance of sexual health improvement and prevention activities are recommended [ 7 , 8 ]. From a sexual health perspective, there has been increased attention on issues including sexual transmitted infections (STIs) [ 9 ], HIV and AIDS [ 10 ], youth pregnancy [ 11 ], contraception [ 12 ] and gender-based violence [ 13 ]. For children and young people, relationship and sexuality education (RSE) programmes have been developed to address these concerns for the purpose of providing knowledge and information to ultimately lead to a satisfying and fulfilling adult life [ 14 , 15 ].…”