Resilience among women survivors of intimate partner violence: Coping, meaning-making, and well-being

This qualitative study explores how women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) cope with abuse and reconstruct well-being and meaning in their lives. The study was conducted with 16 women aged between 27 and 51 living in three cities in the southeastern region of Türkiye. Participants were recruited through women's shelters and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) using purposive and snowball sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that women's experiences of violence were shaped by sociocultural gender norms and included physical, psychological, sexual, and economic abuse. Participants described multiple coping strategies, including seeking social support, emotional expression, religious coping, and resisting stigmatization. Women's pathways toward well-being involved gaining economic independence, developing healthier communication patterns, and investing in personal development. Meaning-making processes included redefining self-identity, motherhood, reconnecting with positive experiences, and interpreting survival as a source of strength. The findings highlight survivors' agency and resilience and underline the importance of social, psychological, and economic support mechanisms in facilitating recovery following IPV.