Surviving relationship violence : young people’s perspective

Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to understand the lived experience of the participants and shed light on the local reality of relationship violence. Furthermore, it brought more awareness of the types and causes of violence as well as investigated whether victims of abuse were aware that they were victims at the time of occurrence. This research examined the current Maltese generation’s and adolescent’s ideas and thoughts about relationship violence, while established and expanded Maltese young people’s views on relationship violence and the different ways it can present itself. This study also aimed to explore the consequences experienced or being experienced after having lived through such a situation. Research participants were recruited through a purposive sampling method. All participants were, at the time of the interview, undergoing therapy. Findings from this study indicated that experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) can contribute to physical and psychological consequences. Leaving IPV was not easy as various barriers to seeking help impeded this. Family responsibilities, financial difficulties, stigma, fear, denial, justification and shame were the most frequently cited difficulties that victims of IPV have faced before commencing treatment. In this study, society and family of origin were both factors that affected IPV. Motherhood was the primary motivator to exit and survive the victims’ trajectory and seek desistance. With all these difficulties in mind, social workers working with IPV victims need to ensure that both females and males feel safe during treatment. Therefore, by understanding the research participants’ perspective about this issue and how they dealt with it, this study can equip social workers with useful information, so they can better help clients going through relationship violence. As professionals, social workers can further learn how to give adequate and needed support. Additionally, this study aims in organising more awareness. We can also prevent such cases by understanding those that survived this experience; through them, one may gain insight into the contributing factors leading towards a build-up of violence.