Victim Safety In The Context Of Abusive Intimate Relationships

Abstract

This PhD thesis aimed to understand how individuals in abusive relationships increase their sense of safety. It draws on findings from a systematic review of the literature, alongside primary data obtained in three empirical studies. The research underpinning this thesis employed a mixed methods approach, benefitting from both qualitative and quantitative data. A systematic literature review, of 61 papers, was initially conducted. It aimed to examine how victims (of interpersonal violence) have responded when they have been subjected to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). The Thematic Analysis supported the presence of five overarching themes, that victims of interpersonal violence; 1) seek help after their victimisation, 2) experience barriers to seeking help, 3) employ a range of strategies, 4) cope with victimisation differently and 5) The help-seeking behaviours of victims are contextual. These findings illustrated several things. Firstly, when in abusive relationships, individual behaviour is varied and dynamic. Secondly, how individuals respond to abuse is influenced by a range of environmental, societal, and individual barriers.
Study one extended the findings from the systematic review by bringing in the knowledge of professionals that work with victims and survivors of IPV. A survey instrument was developed from the findings of the systematic review, and was completed by 69 professionals who worked with victims of IPV. The survey instrument was designed to explore perceptions of professionals regarding the use of strategies (obtained from the systematic review) by those being harmed by a partner, and their likely effectiveness in increasing these individuals’ sense of safety. The findings indicated that victims may not consistently use strategies that are considered effective in increasing safety. All the strategies were endorsed by the sample. However, no strategy (or strategy type) was perceived to be universally employed by victims, or helpful in increasing victim safety. Extending this, help-seeking strategies that participants considered most likely to be used by victims were also perceived to be effective strategies in increasing safety. However, this was conversely true for coping and safety behaviour strategies. Finally, the strategies that were considered to be most likely to be employed represented those that may be most likely to be within victims’ control, while in abusive relationships.
Building on these findings, study 2 brought in the experiences of survivors who had been in abusive relationships, to gain a more in depth understanding of victim decision-making. Using a qualitative approach, 30 participants (15 survivors and 15 professionals) were interviewed. Separate interview protocols were developed for participants who had been abused and participants who worked with victims of abuse. Interviews were analysed using Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006; 2012) and Grounded Theory (Glaser & Straus, 1967; Strauss & Corbin, 1997). The analysis resulted in 11 themes; 1) Victims are subjected to abuse that has significant long and short term impact, 2) Victims have expectations of what will increase their safety, 3) Safety decisions are influenced by victims’ needs, 4) Decisions to seek help are guided by many influences, 5) Increasing safety can be difficult for victims due to existing barriers, 6) There are emotional influences on victims’ safety behaviour, 7) Not all victims can rely on existing knowledge to inform safety behaviour, 8) Victim decision making is influenced by fear, 9) Victims employ multiple strategies in response to abusive behaviours, 10) Victims amend safety behaviour to manage different abuse contexts, and 11) Victims make appraisals of safety behaviour following their use. The findings provided several insights. Firstly, IPV safety strategy use (and non-use) was influenced by a variety of factors, both internal and external, that can increase or decrease use. Secondly, victim strategy use occurs at various points during an abusive relationship. Strategies to increase safety are not only used at the point of harm being done, but also in preparation for potential harm and after episodes of abuse. This indicates a role of cognition in identifying and planning strategies to increase safety.
Finally, Study 3 extended previous findings by exploring the association between behaviours used to increase safety in abusive relationships, such as coping behaviour and environmental security use, and measures of cognition and emotional reactivity. Study variables were derived from behavioural theory implicating affect and cognition in behavioural motivation (Ajzen, 1985; Liang et al., 2005; Rogers, 1975). Two hundred and eighty victims and survivors of IPV completed a questionnaire battery, including measures to explore their coping and environmental security use. The findings indicated that gender, being female, was associated with differences in cognition and affect. Additionally, participants who reported more (in number) abuse reported lower self-esteem and locus of control, and higher emotional reactivity. Regarding victim behaviour, coping behaviour was predicted by cognition or affect, but environmental security was not. Consequently, this provides further indication that both cognition and affect may play a role in victims’ decision-making, in the context of abusive relationships.
The findings from this thesis support the understanding that individuals in abusive relationships implement a range of strategies to act against abusive partners. The findings describe victim decision making being dynamic, impacted by both external (abuse and environment) and internal (affect and cognition), and that strategies used are developed over time through learning and reappraisals. This work indicates that an inclusive theoretical model, to outline how abuse victims identify and implement safety strategies, is needed. Thus, a victim-informed Integrative Model of Victim Safety Strategies (IMVSS) was developed. It is hoped that this will be used to design future research and to help professionals working with victims and survivors of IPV to recognise the potential influences that can increase or decrease victim safety behaviour.