"He Could Scare Me Without Laying a Hand on Me": Mothers' Experiences of Nonviolent Coercive Control During Marriage and After Separation. (March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Crossman, Kimberly A.; Hardesty, Jennifer L.; Raffaelli, Marcela
• Is Part Of: Violence against women. Volume 22:Number 4(2016)
• Page Start: 454
• Page End: 473
• Publication Date: 2016-03
• Subjects: coercive control -- divorce -- intimate partner violence; Abused women -- Periodicals; Women -- Crimes against -- Periodicals; Violent crimes -- Periodicals; Femmes victimes de violence -- Périodiques; Femmes, Crimes contre les -- Périodiques; Crimes violents -- Périodiques; 362.8292
• DOI: 10.1177/1077801215604744
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-8012

Abstract

Studies demonstrate the negative effects of violent coercive control but few examine coercive control without violence. This study describes the characteristics of nonviolent coercive control among 8 divorcing mothers and compares them with 47 mothers who experienced violent coercive control or no violence/no control. Mothers with nonviolent coercive control reported more coping strategies, risk, harassment, and perceived threat than mothers with no violence/no control; similar levels of fear and control during marriage as mothers with violent coercive control; and more postseparation fear than both groups. Findings highlight the need to include nonviolent coercive control in screening methods and research measures.