This qualitative study aimed to explore the connection between experiences of childhood family violence and the perpetration of intimate partner violence. Rooted in an interpretivist methodology, the perceptions and experiences of six male participants were explored via individual interviews. The participants identified having experienced/witnessed family violence. They too stated perpetuating intimate partner violence. The participants were asked questions exploring how they perceived their childhood experiences and/or exposure to family violence to have and continue to impact them into adulthood. Based on the stories of these participants, four major themes were identified; however, ultimately, the importance of adequate and appropriate responses to the external manifestations of the impacts of family violence was emphasized. The discussion urges that current restorative responses to intimate partner violence be evaluated for ones that are preventative in nature, as well as suggested based on the specific needs of each individual. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)

Abstract The purpose of this study is to explore how intimate partner femicide (IPF) has impacted one family. IPF is well researched and studies are largely centered on indicators of intimate partner violence (IFV) and the impacts of children witnessing violence. There is very little research conducted with family members exploring how they are impacted by the violent death of their loved one. This study concentrates on the impacts experienced by one family who has suffered the loss of a loved one due to intimate partner femicide. This study was conducted via a series of interviews with Gail, who lost her sister. Due to the nature and intensity of the subject matter no other family members were contacted. Our first interview was in person and took place in central Ontario, several hours away from where her sister was killed. I conducted further interviews by phone to obtain additional understanding about her experiences of the loss of her sister. I used feminist theory to explore the dynamics in the victim’s relationship prior to her death. Feminist theory was used because it explores the power imbalances that exist in relationships. This revealed a cycle of violence that existed in her intimate relationship and the challenges this woman faced in her attempts to leave her relationship. As a result of her sister’s death Gail and her children have been very deeply affected. Through a thematic analysis of the data, four main themes emerged: 1) the victim feared for her own safety pre and post relationship; and the family were afraid once the woman went missing; 2) the family members faced and continue to face mental health challenges including a very young child suffering with suicide ideations, depression, and anxiety; 3) ways of coping included concealment of emotions and the use of non-medicinal methods of healing trauma; 4) Gail felt guilty that she did not do enough to help keep her sister safe but eventually coming to the realization that she did as much as could be done. Family stress theory is another important theory used to understand and make sense of Gail’s experiences of femicide. Family stress theory refers to multiple stressors as a “pile up”, a stage that Gail encountered when she struggled with depression, anxiety and financial struggles after taking time off work to care for her own children and grandchildren, resulting from Gail’s daughter’s own mental health breakdown which she sees as tied to the families experience of femicide. Of the many things that came from this study I found the most striking was talk of the “new normal” created as a result of the femicide. The new normal has impacted the whole family as they adjust to life without the one person who was central in bringing the family together to celebrate family events. These gatherings no longer take place. When they do half the family does not participate due in part to their ongoing grief and anger over their loss that their sister is no longer present. These findings of my study bring further attention to the continued struggles and impact that IPF has on families. It highlights that there is still much work to be done to put an end to this heinous crime. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)

This thesis uses Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2014 data to identify the important determinants due to which women justification towards intimate partner violence (IPV) varies. Statistical analyses reveal that among the individual-level independent variables age at first marriage, respondent's education, decision score, religion, NGO membership, access to information, husband's education, normalized wealth score, and division indicator have significant effects on the women's attitude towards IPV. It shows that other than religion, NGO membership, and division indicator, the higher the value of the variable, the lower the likelihood of justifying IPV. However, being a Muslim, NGO member, and resident of other divisions, women are found more tolerant of IPV from their respective counterparts. Among the three community-level variables, only the mean decision score is found significant in lowering the likelihood. The thesis concludes with some policy recommendations and a proposal for future research. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

This dissertation is a qualitative study examining the behavior of the main characters in the novels in Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight Saga as those behaviors compare to behavior listed in warnings about partner violence. The study found specific behaviors of those fictional characters matching those recognized as behaviors of partner violence in all four novels in the series, including behaviors that are illegal. The commercial success and popularity of the novels, aimed at the young adult reader market, suggests broad social acceptance of the characters’ behaviors in romantic pursuit. Despite over 30 years of anti-violence work, this research suggests that behaviors are socially well accepted as both indicators of romantic attachment and of partner violence, depending on context rather than behavior. The study demonstrates the fluidity of how behaviors are defined as partner violence, or not. These findings also suggest strategies for social work education, practice and research. / text

Little is known about what factors contribute to resilience or how resilience is experienced by survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Using in-depth semi-structured interviews, two qualitative studies examined how resilience is defined, conceptualized, and experienced by survivors of IPV. Ten adult women participated in study 1 and data was analyzed using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) to identify a variety of internal and external factors and mechanisms that contributed to resilience. Sixteen adult women participated in study 2 and data was analyzed using Colaizzi’s (1978) phenomenological method. Resilience was experienced as a series of cognitive, emotional, and behavioural shifts across three theme areas: toward resistance, in the experience of control, and toward positivity. Together, these studies suggest that for survivors of IPV, resilience is experienced as a personalized, ongoing, and dynamic process involving multiple internal and external pathways that facilitate shift experiences. / Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Thesis (M.S.)--Ball State University, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Aug. 21, 2009). Research paper (M.S.), 3 hrs. Includes bibliographical references (p. 50-54).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Texas, May, 2009. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--George Mason University, 2009. / Vita: p. 81. Thesis director: Lauren Cattaneo. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Nov. 11, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-80). Also issued in print.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is common among college students and university counseling centers require strategies for addressing this health problem (Amar & Gennaro, 2005; Gover, Kaukinin, & Fox, 2004; Murray & Kardatzke, 2007). Attachment theory may provide strong theoretical and empirical grounding for guiding IPV prevention and intervention efforts (Magdol et al., 1998; Schwartz et al., 2006; Scott, Wolfe, & Wekerle, 2003). The present study evaluated a variety of social and emotional risk factors as potential mediators and moderators of the relation between attachment relevant variables and IPV victimization and perpetration in a college sample. None of the primary hypotheses were fully supported; however, women who reported IPV histories exhibited higher levels of anxious romantic attachment than women without IPV histories. Further, partner delinquency moderated the relation between problems with anger modulation and IPV. Sex differences were examined for study variables and women were more likely than men to experience both IPV victimization and perpetration. These results are compared to prior empirical findings and implications for potential prevention and intervention strategies with college students are identified. Methodological considerations that may influence the interpretation of study data are also presented and discussed.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore past intimate partner violence as it occurs in Appalachian women residing in rural and non-urbanized areas. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a social problem occurring within the context of an intimate relationship. It is estimated that 3.5 to 5 million American women experience some form of IPV each year (Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). Abuse types include physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, economic, and stalking, and can involve individuals of any age, race, socioeconomic status, geographic region, or cultural heritage. In this study, participants lived in areas of Appalachia with less than 50,000 residents. Appalachia is a geographic region which spans 13 states, including West Virginia where all participants lived. Twelve past IPV victims shared their stories through the sociocultural tradition of story-telling. Data which emerged through analysis of interview transcripts revealed a meta-theme of Turning Points, which is reflective of the perceived non-linearity of IPV. Themes were: (1) When Hope Turns to Fear; (2) Escalation of Abuse; (3) Continuation of Abuse; (4) That’s When I Knew it had to Stop; (5) Leaving as a Non-Linear Process; (6) Learn from my Story. Don’t Let it be Your Story; and (7) Does Where I Live Make a Difference? Participants experienced multiple types of abuse, and there was always a co-occurrence of abuses. When the severity and frequency of abuse escalated, perpetrators used multiple strategies to hide the abuse, such as isolating the victim from family and friends, and limiting access to transportation and phones. Eventually, each participant recognized they had to leave or their injuries might prove fatal. Leaving was a non-linear process, but each survivor was able to end her abusive relationship. One way they sought to make meaning from their IPV experience was educating others in abuse recognition; disseminating information about abuse both pro-actively and re-actively; and offering emotional, psychological, and perhaps even physical support to past or present IPV victims. One or more facets of the IPV experience was addressed in relation to the sociocultural components of rural or non-urbanized areas of Appalachia.