El torbellino de la violencia. Relatos biográficos de mujeres que sufren maltrato

Abstract

Objectives: To analyse the experience from the point of view of women who have suffered domestic violence. To identify factors related to continuing or resolving the problem. Design: Qualitative interpretative research from a phenomenological perspective. Population sample: Women, detected in primary care, who have suffered domestic violence and have recognized the problem, and who accepted to participate in this research. Multi centre Study: Six health centres in the city of Malaga. Methods and techniques: The technique used is the biographical narration using individual open interviews between social workers and women. This narration was tape-recorded and verbatim transcribed to written text. Grounded theory. Qualitative analysis was made with ATLAS-TI5.2. Outcomes: A total of 35 narrations were analysed. The abuse situation was described as whirl-wind metaphor (blindness-isolation-helplessness-suffering-destiny- dependence- fantasies about love, protection, happiness, change-and vicious circles). Enduring experience is reported to be related to several factors: inculcated gender values, family- ideal, uncertainty, annulment, personal failure sensation, love, support defects, self- image, children protection, multiple fears and material aspects. They identified two types of exit: passive and active with different mechanisms and repercussions. Exit experience is related to: limit situations, children intervention, family ideal attempts, and fear-loss. Leaving is a transitional processor pathway. Institutional support is not always guaranteed and emotional support is better evaluated than a legal one. Conclusions: Enduring and coming out are reported as two qualitatively different states, which involve many cultural and personal factors. There is a gap between these two states with a process that varies depending on the involvement of the women in decision-making. © 2008 Elsevier España, S.L.