Wounded Healers: Exploring Coping With Intimate Partner Violence Among Health Care Workers in Malaysia

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) can affect individuals across various professions, including health care workers (HCWs). Therefore, this qualitative study aimed to explore the coping strategies of HCWs experiencing IPV in Malaysia, providing insights to inform workplace support mechanisms. In-depth interviews were conducted among six HCWs in a tertiary hospital who were also the survivors of IPV. The findings revealed that the survivors employed diverse coping strategies, including seeking help, inclining toward spirituality, avoiding abusive situations, engaging in self-harm, and staying or leaving abusive relationships. Survivors primarily relied on coworkers for support and only sought formal support assistance when situations became critical. While some supportive workplace responses were reported, some hesitated to seek help due to misconceptions about IPV, concerns about privacy, and fear of workplace gossip. To address these barriers, workplaces should make efforts to raise IPV awareness among employees and implement dedicated support policies tailored to the IPV survivors’ coping needs.