Domestic Abuse Victims' Perceptions of Abuse and Support: A Narrative Study Elizabeth Spruin1, Emma Alleyne2 & Ioanna Papadaki2 1 Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, Kent, UK 2 University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK Address for Correspondence: Dr. Elizabeth Spruin School of Psychology, Politics and Sociology Canterbury Christ Church University Canterbury, Kent CT1 1QU England E-mail: Liz.Spruin@canterbury.ac.uk. Please cite as: Spruin, E., Alleyne, E., and Papadaki, I. (2015). Domestic abuse victims' perceptions of abuse and support: A narrative study. Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice, 1, 19-28. 1
Abstract Whilst there is a large body of research exploring the various avenues of support for domestic abuse victims and the risk factors which put women at risk of victimization, there is little research exploring the perceptions of these women. The purpose of the study was therefore to explore the personal views of victimized women; in particular, the risk factors that they believe put them at risk for abuse and what they feel support services should offer. Twelve women were interviewed about their experiences of domestic violence. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis which resulted in three themes: (1) first intimate relationship; (2) quality of life; and (3) supporting services. The results from the analysis highlighted some prominent risk factors and, most importantly, emphasized the need for alternative forms of support. Overall, the findings provide an innovative way of viewing domestic violence by understanding it through victim's narratives, which can further aid to inform current support services within the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Key words: violence against women, abuse, domestic violence, victimization, support services Implications for Practice · Ambivalent first sexual encounters may be an important risk factor for future relationship violence. . The quality of life around the time of abuse is a factor that should be explored further in relation to the victimization of women. · Support services for domestically abused women need to offer more internal support for vocational and educational services. Domestic Abuse Victims' Perceptions of Abuse and Support: A Narrative Study 2
Domestic abuse cuts across every segment of society and occurs in all ages, racial, ethic, socio-economic, sexual orientation and religious groups. It is a social, economic and health concern that does not discriminate. This form of violence relates to any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between intimate partners or family members (Home Office, 2013). Whilst domestic violence against women has long been understood in society and is not a new phenomenon, the prevalence rates remain high. In the United Kingdom, 1 in 5 women have been a victim of domestic abuse since the age of 16, with 1 in 8 women having been assaulted repeatedly over their lifetime (Women's Aid Charity, 2014) and around 1.2 million women experience domestic abuse every year, making it the most commonly experienced form of abuse in the UK (Gay, 2014). From a global perspective, the prevalence rates of domestic violence for women ranges from 10% to 69%, comparison of international