Coping Strategies Employed by Women to Mitigate the Effects of Intimate Partner Violence and their Therapeutic Implications

Abstract

Intimate partner violence has detrimental health and psychological consequences on individuals who experience it. Intimate partner violence is conceptualized in various ways: physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological. Often, coping methods employed by individuals are overlooked. The aim of this capstone project was to understand the experiences of intimate partner violence for women in heterosexual relationships, the ways they cope to mitigate its effects, and current supported therapeutic interventions. Mental health implications of intimate partner violence were explored. Findings included mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (Chandan et al., 2020). Exploration of these effects provided insights about the consequences of intimate partner violence on mental health. Research indicated women used different coping methods to mitigate the effects of intimate partner violence. The main types of coping styles included emotion-focused and problem-focused strategies. Faith-based strategies were also mentioned as they were found to have a unique impact on the experiences and ways of coping. Suggestions for practice included using a trauma-informed lens, centering women’s narratives in the context of therapy, and recognizing how faith-based strategies have influenced those experiences. Future research directions highlight the importance of including diverse perspectives of women who experience intimate partner violence.