"If He Were a Terrorist, You Would Have Caught Him Already": The Experience of Divorce Denial Among Intimate Partner Violence Survivors

Violence Against Women. 2024 Jan;30(1):75-100. doi: 10.1177/10778012231203003. Epub 2023 Sep 21.

Abstract

This study aimed to advance knowledge about separation abuse-and, specifically, divorce denial-and its implications for the well-being of survivors, by applying the conservation of resources (COR) theory. Data were collected from 15 Israeli female survivors of intimate partner violence who were denied divorce over a period lasting between 1 and 12 years. The findings revealed the participants' perceived detrimental effects of divorce denial on their well-being through multiple losses-in terms of autonomy, spiritual and relational, institutional, and financial resources. These findings suggest the need to assess and address the effects of resource loss in separation abuse interventions.

Keywords: conservation of resources theory; intimate partner violence; power and control tactics; separation abuse.

MeSH terms

  • Divorce
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intimate Partner Violence*
  • Male
  • Survivors
  • Terrorism*