Peer Support for Women Who Have Experienced Interpersonal Trauma or Abuse: An Integrative Review

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Social Work

Background:

• Interpersonal trauma, including abuse and violence, significantly impacts women's physical, mental, and social health.
• Peer support, leveraging lived experience and training, offers a supportive framework for individuals facing similar challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize existing evidence on the effectiveness of peer support interventions for women and adolescent girls who have experienced interpersonal trauma.

Main Methods:

• An integrative systematic review was conducted, searching multiple databases (e.g., MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL) up to October 2025.
• Included studies were quality-assessed, and data were analyzed using Antonovsky's Sense of Coherence (SOC) framework.

Main Results:

• Eleven papers from nine studies in high-income countries were synthesized, focusing on comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness of trauma.
• Peer support enhanced self-awareness and understanding of trauma's impact for both recipients and supporters.
• While fostering connection, peer support also presented challenges such as perceived responsibility and potential feelings of failure for supporters.

Conclusions:

• Peer support is confirmed as a valuable intervention for trauma survivors, driven by shared histories and reciprocity.
• Further research is recommended to optimize recruitment, training, and support structures for peer supporters.