Adults who experienced domestic violence and abuse in childhood

Abstract

This thesis seeks to explore the lived experiences of adults, now over the age of 30, who grew up experiencing domestic violence and abuse (DVA) within their homes, growing up in the UK. There is a lack of research in this area, and much less which goes on to discover the longer-term impacts from an adult standpoint. This qualitative research was carried out retrospectively using an interpretative framework drawing from a narrative approach which enables the voices of people from marginalised groups in society to take centre stage. The research included 26 participants aged 30 to 73. Data was collected using an open-ended survey and follow-up unstructured interviews with 19 of the 26 participants who volunteered. Participants' stories were analysed inductively using reflexive thematic analysis.

The results have shown how people are affected by and cope with DVA. They give a clear picture of the abuse and violence which is directed at them from the adult perpetrator, in addition to the impacts of experiencing the abuse of their other parent/carer. Crucially the results demonstrate how as children and young people, they were able to forge agentic coping strategies amidst the abuse and how their relationship to their early experiences is negotiated over the life course as an adult.

The findings form a 5-Stage Framework for Redefining the Past. This shows that adults who have experienced domestic violence and abuse as children and young people are able to overcome these challenges and transform their understanding over time, reaching a point whereby they do not feel defined by their childhood. The Framework has an important story to tell which counteracts some of the negative research discourse to date concerning the deleterious effects of childhood abuse and has implications for other people who have experienced abuse in the past or currently. Recommendations are made for practice and further research in terms of awareness raising and dissemination of the Framework especially to children and young people who may still be living with DVA to offer some hope for future recovery trajectories.

Date of Award	26 Nov 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Cumbria
Supervisor	Alison Jackson (Supervisor) & Hilary Constable (Supervisor)