Promoting resilience in adults with experience of intimate partner violence or child maltreatment: a narrative synthesis of evidence across settings

Abstract

Background: People who have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) or child maltreatment (CM) are at risk of having lower resilience and adverse psychological outcomes. In keeping with the social and environmental factors that support resilience, there is a need to take a public health approach to its investigation and to identify existing initiatives in particular settings and populations that can guide its deliberate promotion.

Method: This narrative synthesis examines quantitative and qualitative studies of interventions with resilience-related outcomes in specified health and other settings. Clinical RCTs are excluded as beyond the scope of this review.

Results: Twenty studies were identified for review in several settings, consisting of 14 quantitative studies, 2 review studies, 2 qualitative studies and 2 mixed-methods studies. Three quantitative studies produced strong evidence to support: a home visitation program for at-risk mothers; a methadone program for women and a substance abuse program. This review reveals that few studies use specific resilience measures.

Conclusions: The topic has been little studied despite high needs for public health interventions in countries of all types. Interventions and research studies that use specific resilience measures are likely to help measure and integrate what is currently a disparate area.

Implications: The participation of people with IPV or CM history in program and research design and implementation is indicated to support advocacy, innovation and sustainable interventions. This is especially pertinent for interventions in LAMIC and indigenous settings where continuing programs are sorely needed.

Keywords: adults; mental health; public health.