Women’s Perceptions,Interpretations,and Reasons to Leave (or Not) Intimate Partner Violence Relationships

Abstract

Deciding to leave a relationship is a complex process, especially when women are involved in intimate partner violence (IPV), requiring consideration of multiple variables. We aimed to examine some predictors—perceived severity, risk assessed, responsibility attributed to the aggressor, and dependency—that may be associated with leaving a violent relationship, considering different types of IPV (physical, psychological, and sexual violence as well as controlling behaviors). Additionally, we explored women’s reasons for leaving violent relationships to better understand the decision-making processes involved in the face of diverse forms of violence. A nonexperimental associative study was conducted with a sample of 324 women (M = 31.44, SD = 11.14) who completed an online survey. The results indicated that higher risk assessment predicted leaving relationships characterized by psychological violence, sexual violence, or controlling behaviors. Dependency was associated with a lower likelihood of leaving relationships involving sexual violence whereas greater perceived severity predicted a higher likelihood of leaving relationships involving controlling behaviors. Notably, no predictor was identified for leaving relationships involving physical violence. Furthermore, physical violence was perceived as more severe and life-threatening, and it led to greater attribution of responsibility to the aggressor than sexual or psychological violence or controlling behaviors. This study highlights that perceptions and evaluations of IPV vary depending on the manifestation of violence. These findings are crucial for recognizing the full impact of IPVAW and fostering intolerance of it in all circumstances.