Young Maltreated Mothers’ Experiences of Navigating Parenting in the Context of Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

Childhood maltreatment and young motherhood both increase the risk of intimate partner violence (IPV). Young mothers with a history of childhood trauma express a desire to protect and parent differently with their own children, but parenting children in the context of IPV is incredibly difficult. Little is known specifically about how young, maltreated Black mothers parent and cultivate family in the wake of challenges. To address this literature gap, we used interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to examine how three mothers aged 20 to 22 who had experienced childhood maltreatment and IPV experienced parenting young children in the context of IPV. All the mothers had one child, had a history of foster care, and self-identified as Black or African American. IPA results yielded a rich depiction of how mothers are navigating complex circumstances and relationships to cultivate safe and reliable homes for their children, with analysis revealing four themes: the transformative nature of motherhood, feeling alone, coping through challenges, and building community. Mothers shared the complicated position of needing to rely on their abusive partners and families, while also expressing the desire to model healthy relationships and support their children. Ultimately, mothers were faced with the challenge of creating support networks and communities of care, which commonly consisted of peers. As young parents with childhood maltreatment transition into adulthood, intervening to protect them against further violence is of paramount importance. Promising strategies include building a robust social support structure and ensuring mothers can secure housing, food, education, and childcare without being reliant on their abusive partners or family members.