Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Massachusetts, 1983. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (p. 167-172). Also issued in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Massachusetts, 1983. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (p. 167-172).

Thesis (M.F.A.)--University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (January 19, 2010)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 254-263). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1993. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 137-150). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.Nurs.)--University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-93). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.A.I.S.)--Oregon State University, 2006. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-80). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M. Nurs.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

The experience of successfully ending a relationship with an abusive partner is seldom explored, although abuse has been experienced by 29% of married Canadian women (Johnson, 1996, cited in Morrow & Varcoe, 2000). This study used a phenomenological design and a critical social science approach to explore the lived experience of women who ended a relationship with an abusive partner. Seven in-depth interviews were analyzed, and encounters with social support from the justice system, counselling agencies, and transition houses were examined. A five-stage model to describe the change process emerged from the data. Metathemes illuminated important internal and external aspects of change during each stage. Childhood gender socialization influenced participants to stay in abusive relationships. Nevertheless, resistance to abuse was seen to have occurred from the beginning. Changing beliefs about gender roles and relationship expectations emerged as an important part of learning and influenced decision-making. Loss of hope and realization of harm led to a shift in decisional balance that culminated in determination to end the relationship. Simple goals evolved to become complex goals as change continued. Participants who attempted to understand their experiences reached a stage that included evolving and healing. Healing also involved a balanced lifestyle, in accordance with the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model. The model's terminology describes a woman in the successive stages of change as a learner, an actor, an evaluator, a survivor, and a thriver. The model is compared with the Transtheoretical Model of Change, and surprising reports of very low self-efficacy at the point of ending the relationship are discussed.