Citation

Chang JC, Dado D, Hawker L, Cluss PA, Buranosky R, Slagel L, McNeil M, Scholle SH. J. Womens Health (Larchmont) 2010; 19(2): 251-259.

Affiliation

Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences and Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Magee-Women's Hospital of UPMC, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Mary Ann Liebert Publishers)

DOI

10.1089/jwh.2009.1568

PMID

20113147

PMCID

PMC2834452

Abstract

Objective: When counseling women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV), healthcare providers can benefit from understanding the factors contributing to a women's motivation to change her situation. We wished to examine the various factors and situations associated with turning points and change seeking in the IPV situation. Methods: We performed qualitative analysis on data from 7 focus groups and 20 individual interviews with women (61 participants) with past and/or current histories of IPV. Results: The turning points women identified fell into 5 major themes: (1) protecting others from the abuse/abuser; (2) increased severity/humiliation with abuse; (3) increased awareness of options/access to support and resources; (4) fatigue/recognition that the abuser was not going to change; and (5) partner betrayal/infidelity. Conclusions: Women experiencing IPV can identify specific factors and events constituting turning points or catalyst to change in their IPV situation. These turning points are dramatic shifts in beliefs and perceptions of themselves, their partners, and/or their situation that alter the women's willingness to tolerate the situation and motivate them to consider change. When counseling women experiencing IPV, health providers can incorporate understanding of turning points to motivate women to move forward in their process of changing their IPV situation.

Language: en