Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to reveal how aspects of the recovery process of women who have suffered from domestic violence by their partners (DV) during the perinatal and childrearing periods changed in their recognition toward victimization.
Method: Adopting qualitative and descriptive research design, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 21 female DV victims.
Results: 4 categories were extracted as recovering processes for female domestic violence victims during their perinatal and childrearing periods: Stage 1 “suppressing recognition of the damage caused by DV below the consciousness level,” Stage 2 “expectations of partners changing to disappointment when beginning to recognize DV damage,” Stage 3 “escaping a DV relationship with ambivalent feelings,” and Stage 4 “both the mind and body escaping a DV relationship.” Also revealed was a core category, “recovery process from domestic violence by getting a sense of oneself.” In their perinatal period, many victims do not recognize the damage DV causes due to their unstable condition in regards to mood swings.
Conclusion: During their perinatal and childrearing periods, women often expect changes in husbands’ or partners’ attitudes due to their desire for family stability, causing them to suppress DV recognition. It is suggested that nurses understand the recovery process of DV victims and support them in order to enhance victims’ regaining a sense of themselves and the overall recovery of women suffering from DV.
