Intimate partner violence in Appalachia: Examining women's experiences with community support.

摘要

Intimate partner violence is a significant social problem in the United States potentially affecting one of every four women. Utilization of available support services has been identified as a key factor in successfully ending an abusive relationship. This qualitative narrative study described the support systems available for victims of intimate partner violence in rural central Appalachia. Participants (N = 21) described their lived experiences, both positive and negative, with seeking support from formal and informal community supports including family, friends, clergy, domestic violence organizations, legal systems, and other supports they utilized. Results indicated that victims of intimate partner violence in rural central Appalachia found their ability to obtain support blocked by threats and intimidation from their abusive partners or a lack of knowledge regarding service availability. In several cases, the participants described refusal from the community to provide them the support they were requesting. Most participants agreed that community support is important in successfully ending an abusive relationship. In the future, a more diverse sample including male victims of intimate partner violence, a greater number of participants, and a larger geographic area can yield further insights not included in this study. Finally, there is a need for additional research on victims' experiences seeking support from the legal system.