Difficult but Close Relationships: Children's Perspectives on Relationships With Their Mothers in the Context of Domestic Violence. (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lapierre, Simon; Côté, Isabelle; Lambert, Amélie; Buetti, David; Lavergne, Chantal; Damant, Dominique; Couturier, Vanessa
• Is Part Of: Violence against women. Volume 24:Number 9(2018)
• Page Start: 1023
• Page End: 1038
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: domestic violence -- children's exposure to domestic violence -- mother–child relationships; 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: 10.1177/1077801217731541
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-8012

Abstract

This article reports findings from a participative and qualitative study conducted with children who had experienced domestic violence, focusing on their perspectives on their relationships with their mothers. Three focus groups and 46 individual interviews were conducted with children to gather their experiences. The research findings demonstrate that women's and children's victimizations are inextricably linked, and that domestic violence affects mother–child relationships. They also show that, despite the challenges and difficulties, children generally consider their mothers as very significant individuals in their lives, and have close relationships with them. The findings also reveal a dynamic of mutual protectiveness.