Most intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors turn to people they know for support. Although research has explored adult IPV survivors’ interactions with their broader social networks, few studies have investigated the specific role of mothers in the help-seeking process. We attempted to fill this gap via a qualitative descriptive study of the subjective experiences of 13 IPV survivors who turn to their mothers for support. Findings revealed the complex and mutually shaping emotional dynamics that played out in this context, influenced by intergenerational trauma and social messages passed from mother to daughter. As practitioners increasingly turn toward network-oriented approaches to working with survivors, it is essential that they recognize these distinct dynamics.
AhrensC. E.DworkinE. R.HartA. C. (2021). Social reactions received by survivors of intimate partner violence: A qualitative validation of key constructs from the social reactions questionnaire. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 45(1), 37–49. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361684320975663
2.
AlfordA. M. (2021). Doing daughtering: An exploration of adult daughters’ constructions of role portrayals in relation to mothers. Communication Quarterly, 69(3), 215–237. https://doi.org/10.1080/01463373.2021.1920442
3.
AlfordA. M.HarriganM. M. (2019). Role expectations and role evaluations in daughtering: Constructing the good daughter. Journal of Family Communication, 19(4), 348–361. https://doi.org/10.1080/15267431.2019.1643352
AntleB.KaramE. A.BarbeeA. P.SullivanD.MinogueA.GloverA. (2020). Intergenerational transmission of intimate partner violence and its impact on adolescent relationship attitudes: A qualitative study. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 25(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2019.1634894
6.
BarnettR. C. (1990). Adult daughters and their mothers: Harmony or hostility. Wellesley College Center for Research on Women. Retrieved from: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED323426.pdf.
7.
BehnkeA. O.AmesN.HancockT. U. (2012). What would they do? Latino church leaders and domestic violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 27(7), 1259–1275. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260511425246
8.
BirtL.ScottS.CaversD.CampbellC.WalterF. (2016). Member checking: A tool to enhance trustworthiness or merely a nod to validation?Qualitative Health Research, 26(13), 1802–1811. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732316654870
9.
BojczykK. E.LehanT. J.McWeyL. M.MelsonG. F.KaufmanD. R. (2011). Mothers’ and their adult daughters’ perceptions of their relationship. Journal of Family Issues, 32(4), 452–481. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X10384073
BrabeckK. M.GuzmánM. R. (2008). Frequency and perceived effectiveness of strategies to survive abuse employed by battered Mexican-origin women. Violence Against Women, 14(11), 1274–1294. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801208325087
12.
BronfenbrennerU. (1986). Ecology of the family as a context for human development: Research perspectives. Developmental Psychology, 22(6), 723–742. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.22.6.723
13.
CapaldiD.KnobleN.ShorttJ.KimH. (2012). A systematic review of risk factors for intimate partner violence. Partner Abuse, 3(2), 231–280. https://doi.org/10.1891/1946-6560.3.2.231
14.
ChengS. Y.LeeJ.SchindelerB.KimJ. H.MessingJ. T. (2025). Barriers and facilitators of help-seeking among Asian women survivors of intimate partner violence in the United States: A scoping review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, Advanced, online, 15248380251381816. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380251381816
15.
ChoiY. J.ElkinsJ.DisneyL. (2016). A literature review of intimate partner violence among immigrant populations: Engaging the faith community. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 29, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2016.05.004
16.
CokerA.SmithP.ThompsonM.McKeownR.BetheaL.DavisK. (2004). Social support protects against the negative effects of partner violence on mental health. Journal of Women’s Health and Gender-Based Medicine, 11(5), 465–476. https://doi.org/10.1089/15246090260137644
17.
DaviesR. L.RiceK.RockA. J. (2023). A systematic review of informal supporters of intimate partner violence survivors: The intimate partner violence model of informal supporter readiness. PeerJ, 11, e15160. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15160
18.
DaviesR. L.RiceK.RockA. J. (2024). The extended social network-oriented support model for intimate partner violence survivors. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 33(6), 2394–2399. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.13419
19.
Downe-WamboldtB. (1992). Content analysis: Method, applications, and issues. Health Care for Women International, 13(3), 313–321. https://doi.org/10.1080/07399339209516006
20.
EdwardsK.DardisC.GidyczC. A. (2012). Women’s disclosure of dating violence: A mixed methodological study. Feminism & Psychology, 22(4), 507–517. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959353511422280
21.
EhrensaftM. K.Langhinrichsen-RohlingJ. (2022). Handbook of Interpersonal Violence and Abuse Across the Lifespan: A Project of the National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence Across the Lifespan (NPEIV). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89999-2_152.
FingermanK. L. (1996). Sources of tension in the aging mother and adult daughter relationship. Psychology and Aging, 11(4), 591–606. https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.11.4.591
24.
FingermanK. L.BermannE. (2000). Applications of family systems theory to the study of adulthood. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 51(1), 5–29. https://doi.org/10.2190/7tf8-wb3f-tmwg-tt3k
25.
FischerL. R. (1981). Transitions in the mother-daughter relationship. Journal of Marriage and Family, 43(3), 613–622. https://doi.org/10.2307/351762
26.
FranklinC. A.MenakerT. A.KercherG. A. (2012). Risk and resiliency factors that mediate the effect of family-of-origin violence on adult intimate partner victimization and perpetration. Victims & Offenders, 7(2), 121–142. https://doi.org/10.1080/15564886.2012.657288
27.
FuchselC. L. M. (2012). The catholic church as a support for immigrant Mexican women living with domestic violence. Social Work and Christianity, 39(1), 66.
28.
GoodmanL.DuttonM.VankosN.WeinfurtK. (2005). Women’s resources and use of strategies as risk and protective factors for reabuse over time. Violence Against Women, 11(3), 311–336. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801204273297. PMID: 16043552
29.
GoodmanL. A.BanyardV.WoulfeJ.AshS.MatternG. (2016). Bringing a network-oriented approach to domestic violence services: A focus group exploration of promising practices. Violence Against Women, 22(1), 64–89. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801215599080
30.
GoodmanL. A.EpsteinD. (2022). Loneliness and the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for intimate partner violence survivors. Journal of Family Violence, 37(5), 767–774. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-020-00215-8
31.
GoodmanL. A.EpsteinD.NnawuleziN.ZhangE.HailesH.SlocumA. (2023). Informal help-seeking in moments of acute danger: Intimate partner violence survivors’ emergency outreach efforts and the forces that shape them. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 38(5-6), 4742–4767. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605221119517
32.
GoodmanL. A.EpsteinD.ZhangE.XieC.Mueller-HsiaJ.SlocumA. (2024). Trying to be there for her, knowing i’m mentally breaking myself”: How mothers experience and respond to their adult children’s IPV. Journal of Family Violence, 39(2), 255–270. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-024-00780-2
33.
GoodmanL. A.SmythK. F. (2011). A call for a social network-oriented approach to services for survivors of intimate partner violence. Psychology of Violence, 1(2), 79–92. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022977
34.
GreenJ.SatyenL.ToumbourouJ. W. (2024). Influence of cultural norms on formal service engagement among survivors of intimate partner violence: A qualitative meta-synthesis. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 25(1), 738–751. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380231162971
35.
GregoryA. C.WilliamsonE.FederG. (2017). The Impact on Informal Supporters of Domestic Violence Survivors: A Systematic Literature Review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 18(5), 562–580. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838016641919
36.
GuetaK.PeledE.Sander-AlmozninoN. (2016). I used to be an ordinary mom: The maternal identity of mothers of women abused by an intimate partner. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 86(4), 456–466. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000128
37.
GülerA.LeeR. C.Rojas-GuylerL.LambertJ.SmithC. R. (2023). The influences of sociocultural norms on women's decision to disclose intimate partner violence: Integrative review. Nursing Inquiry, 30(4), e12589. https://doi.org/10.1111/nin.12589
38.
HayE. L.FingermanK. L.LefkowitzE. S. (2007). The experience of worry in parent-adult child relationships. Personal Relationships, 14(4), 605–622.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2007.00174.x
39.
HaysS. (1996). The cultural contradictions of motherhood. Yale University Press.
HerbertA.BarterC.SzilassyE.HeronJ.FraserA.BarnesM.YakubovichA. R.FederG.HoweL. D. (2025). The impact of parental intimate partner violence and abuse (IPVA) on young adult relationships: A UK general population cohort study. The Lancet Regional Health–Europe, 53, 101278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2025.101278
42.
Houston-KolnikJ. D.ToddN. R.GreesonM. R. (2019). Overcoming the “Holy Hush”: A qualitative examination of Protestant Christian leaders’ responses to intimate partner violence. American Journal of Community Psychology, 63(1-2), 135–152. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12278
43.
HsiehH. F.ShannonS. E. (2005). Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qualitative Health Research, 15(9), 1277–1288. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732305276687
44.
HulleyJ.BaileyL.KirkmanG.GibbsG. R.GomersallT.LatifA.JonesA. (2023). Intimate partner violence and barriers to help-seeking among Black, Asian, minority ethnic and immigrant women: A qualitative metasynthesis of global research. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 24(2), 1001–1015. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380211050590
45.
KimH.SefcikJ. S.BradwayC. (2017). Characteristics of qualitative descriptive studies: A systematic review. Research in Nursing & Health, 40(1), 23–42. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.21768
46.
LattaR. E.GoodmanL. A. (2011). Intervening in partner violence against women: A grounded theory exploration of informal network members’ experiences. The Counseling Psychologist, 39(7), 973–1023.https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000011398504
47.
LeathS.BillingsleyJ.JonesM.JohnsonK.TaliaferroJ.Gaskin-ColeG. (2023). Raising resilient Black women: A study of superwoman mothering and strength as a form of gendered racial socialization in Black mother-daughter relationships. Sex Roles, 89(11), 625–642. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-023-01417-2
48.
LeemisR. W.FriarN.KhatiwadaS.ChenM. S.KresnowM.SmithS. G.CaslinS.BasileK. C. (2022). The national intimate partner and sexual violence survey: 2016/2017 report on intimate partner violence. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-023-01417-2
49.
LevendoskyA. A.BogatG. A.TheranS. A.TrotterJ. S.von EyeA.Davidson IIW. S. (2004). The social networks of women experiencing domestic violence. American Journal of Community Psychology, 34(12), 95–109. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:AJCP.0000040149.58847.10
50.
LiangB.GoodmanL.Tummala-NarraP.WeintraubS. (2005). A theoretical framework for understanding help-seeking processes among survivors of intimate partner violence. American Journal of Community Psychology, 36(1,2), 71–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-005-6233-6
51.
MonterrosaA. E. (2021). How race and gender stereotypes influence help-seeking for intimate partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(17-18), NP9153–NP9174. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519853403
52.
MorrowS. L. (2007). Qualitative research in counseling psychology: Conceptual foundations. The Counseling Psychologist, 35(2), 209–235. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000006286990
53.
Njie-CarrV. P.SabriB.MessingJ. T.SuarezC.Ward-LasherA.WachterK.MareaC. X.CampbellJ. (2021). Understanding intimate partner violence among immigrant and refugee women: A grounded theory analysis. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 30(6), 792–810. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2020.1796870
PetersonC.KearnsM. C.McIntoshW. L.EstefanL. F.NicolaidisC.McCollisterK. E.GordonA.FlorenceC. (2018). Lifetime economic burden of intimate partner violence among U.S. adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 55(4), 433–444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2018.04.049. PMID: 30166082
56.
RastogiM.WamplerK. S. (1999). Adult daughters’ perceptions of the mother-daughter relationship: A cross-cultural comparison. Family Relations, 48(3), 327–336. https://doi.org/10.2307/585643
57.
RaviK. E.RobinsonS. R.SchragR. V. (2022). Facilitators of formal help-seeking for adult survivors of IPV in the United States: A systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 23(5), 1420–1436. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838021995954
58.
RobinsonS. R.RaviK.Voth SchragR. J. (2020). A systematic review of barriers to formal help seeking for adult survivors of IPV in the United States, 2005–2019. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 22(5), 1279–1295. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838020916254
59.
RoseL. E.CampbellJ. (2000). The role of social support and family relationships in women's response to battering. Health Care International, 21(1), 27–39. https://doi.org/10.1080/073993300245384
60.
SandelowskiM. (2001). Real qualitative researchers do not count: The use of numbers in qualitative research. Research in Nursing & Health, 24(3), 230–240. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.1025
61.
SchmidtM.KediaS. K.DillonP. J.HowellK. H. (2023). Challenges to help-seeking among women of color exposed to intimate partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 38(13-14), 8088–8113. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605231153880
62.
Schucan BirdK. L.StokesN.RivasC. (2025). Interventions for improving informal social support for victim-survivors of domestic violence and abuse: An evidence and gap map. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 21(2), e70026. https://doi.org/10.1002/cl2.70026
63.
ShieldsM.TonmyrL.HovdestadW. E.GonzalezA.MacMillanH. (2020). Exposure to family violence from childhood to adulthood. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1673. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09709-y
64.
ShrierD. K.TompsettM.ShrierL. A. (2004). Adult mother–daughter relationships: A review of the theoretical and research literature. Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry, 32(1: Special issue), 91–115. https://doi.org/10.1521/jaap.32.1.91.28332
65.
StylianouA. M.Counselman-CarpenterE.RedcayA. (2021). My sister is the one that made me stay above water”: How social supports are maintained and strained when survivors of intimate partner violence reside in emergency shelter programs. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(13-14), 6005–6028. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260518816320
66.
SylaskaK. M.EdwardsK. M. (2014). Disclosure of intimate partner violence to informal social support network members: A review of the literature. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 15(1), 3–21. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838013496335
67.
TrotterJ. L.AllenN. E. (2009). The good, the bad, and the ugly: Domestic violence survivors’ experiences with their informal sources. American Journal of Community Psychology, 43(3,4), 221–231. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-009-9232-1
68.
UmbersonD. (1992). Relationships between adult children and their parents: Psychological consequences for both generations. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 54(3), 664–674. https://doi.org/10.2307/353252
69.
Voth SchragR. J.RaviK.RobinsonS.SchroederE.Padilla-MedinaD. (2021). Experiences with help seeking among non–service-engaged survivors of IPV: Survivors’ recommendations for service providers. Violence Against Women, 27(12-13), 2313–2334. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801220963861
70.
WallerB. Y.HarrisJ.QuinnC. R. (2022). Caught in the crossroad: An intersectional examination of African American women intimate partner violence survivors’ help seeking. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 23(4), 1235–1248. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838021991303
71.
WhitingJ. B.SimmonsL. A.HavensJ. R.SmithD. B.OkaM. (2009). Intergenerational transmission of violence: The influence of self-appraisals, mental disorders and substance abuse. Journal of Family Violence, 24, 639–648. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-009-9262-3
72.
WhittonS. W.DevlinE. A.LawlaceM.NewcombM. E. (2024). Disclosure and help-seeking experiences of sexual and gender minority victims of intimate partner violence: A mixed-methods study. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 39(7-8), 1373–1397. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605231207618
73.
WoodL. (2017). “I look across from me and I see me”: Survivors as advocates in intimate partner violence agencies. Violence Against Women, 23(3), 309–329. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801216641518
74.
ZustB. L.Flicek OpdahlB.MosesK. S.SchubertC. N.TimmermanJ. (2021). 10-year Study of christian church support for domestic violence victims: 2005-2015. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(7-8), 2959–2985. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260521991271
