Understanding turning points in intimate partner violence: factors and circumstances leading women victims toward change.
OBJECTIVE
When counseling women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV), healthcare providers can benefit from understanding the factors contributing to a women's motivation to change her situation. We wished to examine the various factors and situations associated with turning points and change seeking in the IPV situation.


METHODS
We performed qualitative analysis on data from 7 focus groups and 20 individual interviews with women (61 participants) with past and/or current histories of IPV.


RESULTS
The turning points women identified fell into 5 major themes: (1) protecting others from the abuse/abuser; (2) increased severity/humiliation with abuse; (3) increased awareness of options/access to support and resources; (4) fatigue/recognition that the abuser was not going to change; and (5) partner betrayal/infidelity.


CONCLUSIONS
Women experiencing IPV can identify specific factors and events constituting turning points or catalyst to change in their IPV situation. These turning points are dramatic shifts in beliefs and perceptions of themselves, their partners, and/or their situation that alter the women's willingness to tolerate the situation and motivate them to consider change. When counseling women experiencing IPV, health providers can incorporate understanding of turning points to motivate women to move forward in their process of changing their IPV situation.
Chang
Judy C
JC
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences and Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Magee-Women's Hospital of UPMC, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA. jchang@mail.magee.edu
Dado
Diane
D
Hawker
Lynn
L
Cluss
Patricia A
PA
Buranosky
Raquel
R
Slagel
Leslie
L
McNeil
Melissa
M
Scholle
Sarah Hudson
SH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012944:Social Support; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult