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Open Access 27-09-2024 | ORIGINAL ARTICLE

The Integrated Model: Dynamic Changes in Mother–Child Relationship in the Context of Intimate Partner Violence

Authors: Anne Chun Miao Wong, Rainbow Tin Hung Ho

Published in: Journal of Family Violence

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the explicit and implicit aspects of mother–child relationship to explain changes in the relationship led by changes in the context of intimate partner violence (IPV) over time. The explicit mother–child relationship involves verbal and conscious communications, while the implicit relationship consists of nonverbal and nonconscious interactions.

Method

Grounded Theory was employed to assert the participant perspectives as most important. Participants included 33 Chinese mother–child survivors (13 mothers and 20 children) who were residents and ex-residents of a shelter for abused women and their children in Hong Kong. Data on their explicit relationship was collected from qualitative individual interviews. An art-based method, Joint Painting Procedure (JPP), was applied to obtain dyadic mother–child data on their implicit relationship.

Results

The integrated model, “Dynamic changes in mother–child relationship in the context of IPV”, was grounded in three main parts of findings. First, the participants’ intersecting social identities and backgrounds. Second, the changes in their explicit relational dynamics led by the transitions in the context of IPV. Third, their bidirectional and reciprocal implicit relational dynamics elicited through their JPP and post-painting discussions.

Conclusion

The integrated model has significant implications for professional interventions at the post-separation stage. First, IPV is an intersectional social problem requiring social and policy changes, and consideration of diversities among mother–child survivors. Second, the mother–child relationship and the context of IPV are dynamic and changing instead of static. Third, the implicit relationship provides a new dimension for professional interventions to strengthen the mother–child relationship.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Footnotes
1
Among these 12 mothers and 19 children, one mother and her two children were admitted to a crisis center before entering the shelter. They were referred by the crisis center to the shelter, and then transferred directly from the crisis center to the pick-up point of shelter, as the perpetrator/father ambushed the mother near the crisis center. Therefore, this mother was included in the number of 2nd time admission in Appendix 1 under the item Number of admission(s) to any shelter or crisis center. As a result, the number of mothers of 1st time admission is 11, and that of the 2nd time admission is 2.
 
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Metadata
Title
The Integrated Model: Dynamic Changes in Mother–Child Relationship in the Context of Intimate Partner Violence
Authors
Anne Chun Miao Wong
Rainbow Tin Hung Ho
Publication date
27-09-2024
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Family Violence
Print ISSN: 0885-7482
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2851
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-024-00733-9