Needs and Support Perceived by Women for Coping with the Experience of Intimate Partner Violence in Andalusia (Spain): A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to analyse in depth the needs and supports of women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV), as well as how they dealt with this experience long after they had left the situation of violence. For this purpose, a qualitative study was designed in which 53 women survivors of IPV participated, most of them (71.7%) coming from women's associations specific to gender violence. Data were collected through a semi- structured interview where women answered four open-ended questions about how IPV changed their lives and how they are living this situation at the moment. The results identified four main themes: (1) the changes that occurred after the experience, (2) the support obtained during recovery, (3) the perceived needs and obstacles, and (4) the current situation. Formal and informal social support was highlighted as critical to the recovery and emotional well- being of survivors. Other relevant data are the importance of continuity in the intervention, together with the specialization in psychological intervention to relieve psychological problems in the long term.