Women's Decisions to Stay in or Leave an Abusive Relationship: Results From a Longitudinal Study in Bolivia. (November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Heim, Eva; Ajzen, Icek; Schmidt, Peter; Seddig, Daniel
• Is Part Of: Violence against women. Volume 24:Number 14(2018)
• Page Start: 1639
• Page End: 1657
• Publication Date: 2018-11
• Subjects: intimate partner violence -- decision to leave -- theory of planned behavior -- Bolivia; 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: 10.1177/1077801217741993
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-8012

Abstract

This study examined Bolivian women's decisions to stay with or leave their violent partners. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) was used as the theoretical framework. One hundred thirty-four women were assessed 3 times over 6 months. The TPB constructs were measured at T1 and T2; relationship status was assessed at T3. At T2, attitudes about staying and leaving predicted the intention to leave. Intention to leave at T2 but not at T1 predicted relationship status at T3. These results suggest that the decision to leave was consolidated between T1 and T2, and attitudes toward staying were most relevant to this decision.