Parenting in the Context of Intimate Partner Violence: Understanding Mothers' Perceptions

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) research often overlooks mothers' perspectives on parenting.
• Existing studies focus on IPV's impact on mothers and children, not mothers' lived experiences of parenting amidst IPV.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore mothers' perceptions of parenting capacity and meaning-making in the context of lifelong intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure.
• To develop a preliminary model for understanding parenting capacity influenced by IPV.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing semi-structured in-person interviews with 16 female survivors of IPV.
• Participants experienced IPV in childhood and adulthood and had school-aged children.
• Analysis focused on parenting practices and experiences with IPV.

Main Results:

• Parenting capacity was categorized into two distinct capacities: relational and operational.
• A preliminary Dual-Part Model of Parenting was developed, highlighting the complexity of parenting under IPV.
• Lifespan exposure to IPV significantly impacts perceived parenting capacity.

Conclusions:

• The Dual-Part Model of Parenting offers a framework for understanding how IPV affects mothers' parenting.
• Strengths-based approaches are crucial for supporting parenting survivors of IPV.
• Future research and policy should adopt an intersectionality approach to address IPV's complex effects on parenting.