title: Living With and Within the Rules of Domestic Violence Shelters: A Qualitative Exploration of Residents' Experiences.
abstract: As emergency domestic violence (DV) shelters have proliferated, there has been an increase in rules that shelter residents must follow. This qualitative descriptive study explores intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors' experiences living with DV shelter rules. Five thematic clusters emerged from interviews with 11 survivors: (1) shelter environment/staff approach, (2) making sense of the rules, (3) staff enforcement of the rules, (4) short-term impact of the rules, and (5) coping. Results suggest that residents benefit from more flexible boundaries between staff and residents, less restrictive rules, and collaborative, transparent rule enforcement. Recommendations are made for shelter practice and future research.
authors.affiliation: Private practice, Arlington, MA, USA catherineglennphd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Glenn
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goodman
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D016352:Group Homes; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: domestic violence services; intimate partner violence; shelters