Recognizing Resilience: Exploring the Impacts of COVID-19 on Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

This study explores self-reported impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on several facets of IPV survivor well-being, such as mental health, economic stability, food security, and resilience. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with survivors of IPV. Qualitative data were collected on variables related to mental health, economic stability, food security, and resilience. The findings of this study suggest that while survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) face a variety of challenges posed by COVID-19 (e.g., employment, income, etc.), they identify themselves as resilient. Our findings also show that while survivors of have faced setbacks due to COVID-19, variables such as mental health and well-being have improved. Our findings suggest that while the pandemic has certainly impacted survivors, and included setbacks or delays, survivors have seen improvements in several areas. Our data suggest that these improvements, in the face of difficulties, is because of the overwhelming resilience of survivors.