Abstract
Purpose
Relationship Violence Intervention Programs (RVIPs) increase safety for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) by reducing the abusive attitudes and behaviors of their abusive partners. Researchers typically assess RVIP effectiveness by measuring abusive partners’ recidivism, which is limited in capturing partners’ behavior changes and determining whether survivors experience a reduction in abuse. This study explored survivors’ hopes for their partners participating in an RVIP and survivors’ perceptions of the RVIP’s influence on abusive partners’ behavior change.
Method
Twenty-four IPV survivors participated in in-depth, individual interviews about their needs and experiences after their partners entered an RVIP. Interview transcripts were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, which inductively identifies themes.
Results
Survivors hoped the RVIP would give their partners tools to manage their anger and learn accountability. Survivors also wanted to give and receive feedback about their partners’ participation. Some survivors described the RVIP as positive while others described it as negative or as having mixed influences on partners’ behavior change. Survivors’ perceptions of the impacts of the RVIP were influenced by how survivors conceptualized abuse, whether partners’ behavior change was sustained and/or felt sufficient, and how survivors’ safety was impacted.
Conclusion
RVIPs should involve survivors in service planning and provide information about program goals, expectations for abusive partners, and ongoing risks to survivors’ safety. Additional implications and recommendations for further research and practice are discussed.
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This research was supported in part by a Faculty Research Grant from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, College for the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
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Jumarali, S.N., Nnawulezi, N., Eldridge, K. et al. Survivors’ Perspectives on Relationship Violence Intervention Programs. J Fam Viol 38, 477–489 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-022-00423-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-022-00423-4