Citation

Lutz KE, Curry MA, Robrecht LC, Libbus MK, Bullock L. Can. J. Nurs. Res. 2006; 38(4): 118-134.

Affiliation

School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Clinical Sciences Center, Wisconsin 53792-2455, USA. kflutz@wisc.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, McGill University School of Nursing, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

17290958

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to extend and integrate the process theories of abuse and becoming a mother in order to provide a contextually appropriate perspective for understanding women's behavioural responses to intimate partner abuse during pregnancy. Double binding is proposed as a construct for understanding intimate partner abuse during pregnancy. Double binding refers to the simultaneous and often conflicting psychological and social processes of binding-in to the unborn child and to the abusive intimate partner that women engage in as they perform the developmental tasks associated with becoming a mother while living with an abusive partner.This construct was developed through an inductive-deductive process using clinical experience, a literature review, and qualitative data from 2 studies of abuse during pregnancy. The authors conclude that double binding is a suitable lens through which to interpret pregnant women's behavioural responses to abuse.They offer suggestions regarding clinical practice and research to further develop appropriate interventions incorporating this construct.

Language: en