“I Have to Make Sure She Is Not Sad”: Children's Perceptions of Their Mothers’ Experiences in Shelters for Battered Women

Citation:

Anat Vass and Haj-Yahia, Muhammad M. 2023. ““I Have To Make Sure She Is Not Sad”: Children's Perceptions Of Their Mothers’ Experiences In Shelters For Battered Women”. Violence Against Women. doi:10.1177/10778012231159416.

Abstract:

A qualitative study examined children's subjective perception of their mother's situation during their stay in shelters for battered women (SBW). Thirty-two children, aged 7–12 years, who were staying with their mothers in SBWs participated in this study. Thematic analysis revealed the following two core themes: children's perceptions and insights, and feelings that were related to their perceptions. The findings are discussed in light of the concepts of exposure to IPV as a lived trauma, and re-exposure to violence in new contexts, and the role of the relationship with the abused mother in shaping the child's well-being.

Notes:

Funding Information: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was financially supported by The Henry Zucker Foundation at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the Haruv Institute. Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2023.