Qualitative Social Work

While coercive control is widely recognised as a patterned system of relational and institutional entrapment, the Spiderweb metaphor—used as a practice tool in family and domestic violence direct practice spaces in Australia—remains underdeveloped in academic literature. This article expands the Spiderweb metaphor as a practice-informed conceptual lens for understanding how coercive control operates over time and across domains, while situating the metaphor alongside established practice frameworks. This discussion outlines six interlinked dimensions of the metaphor, including the structure and stickiness of the web, the adaptive strategies of the person using coercive control, processes of resistance and strand-cutting, and the gendered and complex, non-linear dynamics of leaving, returning, and staying as survivors navigate coercive control. Drawing briefly on the concept of the “arrest web,” the article highlights how coercive control often becomes visible only when illuminated from particular angles. By integrating theory with practice-based reflection, the Spiderweb metaphor is presented as an intervention tool to support pattern recognition, risk assessment and survivor-centred safety planning across diverse practice contexts.

Disabled women experience disproportionately high rates of gender-based violence (GBV), with prevalence in Newfoundland and Labrador exceeding that of other Canadian provinces. Despite growing attention to this issue, the voices of disabled women, particularly in Atlantic Canada, remain largely absent from research. This study explores their lived experiences to address this critical gap. Thirteen in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with disabled women (ages 25–50) in Newfoundland and Labrador who had experienced GBV. Participants self-identified with a range of disabilities, including developmental, physical, neurodivergence, chronic illness, and mental health conditions. Recruitment involved provincial and local outreach, collaboration with community organizations, and snowball sampling. Data were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Findings reveal how disability itself is weaponized in GBV, with disabled women often targeted because of their perceived vulnerability. Many participants described how male entitlement and societal norms reinforced cycles of harm, leaving them trapped in patterns of abuse. Violence reshaped women’s lives, exacerbating their disabilities and deepening their isolation, while institutional betrayal and community silence further normalized their mistreatment. For some, survival meant negotiating safety through compromise, as autonomy became a bargaining tool in a system that offered little protection. This study underscores the urgent need for intersectional, trauma-informed responses that recognize the compounded impact of GBV on disabled women. Disrupting these cycles requires challenging the social conditions that sustain harm and increasing support systems that acknowledge both the unique vulnerabilities and resilience of disabled survivors.

Current research on intimate partner violence (IPV) against older women remains understudied and often overlooked in domestic violence and abuse studies. Using interpretive phenomenological analysis, this qualitative study aims to explore the lived experiences of IPV against older Taiwanese women. The findings of 13 in-depth interviews present the influence of culture on violence against women across the life course. In their young adulthood, abusers often used sex and coercive control to trap women in abusive relationships. As these women aged, they experienced different types of abuse, including physical, emotional, sexual, and economic abuse. The abusers also manipulated their adult children to isolate older IPV survivors and invalidated survivors’ lifelong contributions to the family. This study advances IPV research by intersecting aging, life span, and sociocultural gender norms. Social workers serving this population need to provide trauma-informed services that account for the cultural context of older female IPV survivors.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) disproportionately affects LGBTQ+ individuals, yet their unique experiences remain underrepresented in mainstream research, services, and prevention strategies. This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of 30 LGBTQ+ survivors of IPV across the United States, aiming to understand the multifaceted systemic barriers they face and identify survivor-informed solutions for more inclusive prevention and intervention strategies. Using reflexive thematic and thematic network analysis, five key themes were identified: lack of recognition and understanding of abuse, limited support networks, economic dependency, lack of media representation, and inaccessible crisis resources. Participants described challenges in identifying nonphysical and identity-based abuse, compounded by financial control, community isolation, and systemic discrimination. Thematic network mapping highlighted the interdependence of structural barriers, particularly the intersection of economic vulnerability and institutional exclusion. Findings underscore the need for LGBTQ+inclusive education, culturally competent crisis response, financial empowerment strategies, and affirming media representation. This study calls for systemic reform in IPV prevention and intervention to address the specific realities of LGBTQ+ survivors and ensure equitable access to safety and healing.

Negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes are highly preventable and treatable. However, barriers to quality sexual and reproductive health care hinder women’s access to interventions. This research extends our knowledge of the barriers to seeking and obtaining sexual and reproductive health care among survivors of intimate partner violence in the southwestern and midwestern United States, elucidating survivors’ stories of accessing and participating in such care. Findings centered on four major themes. First, abusive partners’ controlling and jealous tactics prevented survivors from accessing timely sexual health care. Second, cognitive and affective barriers of shame, fear, and guilt led survivors to avoid or delay sexual health care. Third, resource-related barriers, such as unemployment, uninsured or underinsured status, unstable housing, and limited transportation and childcare, prevented survivors from accessing services. Finally, the health care system created structural and provider-related barriers, leading to health care service gaps. Practice and policy implications are specifically discussed for medical and public health social workers and allied professionals.

Survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) may seek formal support across systems of care; however, those with marginalized identities, and from rural communities, may also experience more barriers while seeking help. The current study highlights findings from 13 focus groups in a needs assessment of domestic violence services in Illinois. Participants included 46 survivors of IPV who accessed formal supports in urban and rural communities; they were diverse in terms of gender (61% cisgender female, 21% cisgender male, 15% transgender/gender non-conforming), sexual identity (37% sexual minority), and race/ethnicity (41% African American/Black, 28% White, 11% Asian/Asian American, and 11% Hispanic/Latino/a/x); 26% were an immigrant and 20% had a disability. Through reflexive thematic analysis, this study highlighted the complexities of help-seeking and attainment through nine themes related to barriers. Intertwined in these barriers were aspects related to one’s identity or geography. For example, there was a lack of cultural awareness and trust within services, issues with accessibility, and perceptions of shame and stigma. Among barriers noted, many survivors were navigating formal structures that were oppressive and harmful, contributing to feelings of dehumanization. More research is necessary to continue examining intersectional identities and communities that remain at the margin of IPV services. Results highlight the urgent need to strengthen the coordination of services, emphasizing the necessity of DV advocates, and urging providers to deliver more inclusive and culturally responsive services.

Black women in the United States experience disproportionately high rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) and face significant barriers to accessing culturally congruent services. Ecological theories, such as Bronfenbrenner’s (1994) chronosystem and intersectional frameworks including Black feminist theorists such as Hill Collins’ (2000) matrix of domination and Richie’s (2012) violence matrix, illustrate that Black women’s experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) are entwined within broader historical and sociopolitical forces. These factors, including structural racism, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, have influenced the design, delivery, and perception of IPV services, constraining help-seeking options and limiting access to care that is congruent with the lived experiences of Black survivors (Murugan et al., 2022). We employed a qualitative approach and purposive sampling to interview 18 IPV service providers in a Midwestern metropolitan area. Interviews were framed within the intersecting chronosystem influences of the domestic violence movement, structural racism, COVID-19, and the BLM movement and asked service providers to observe the ways that contemporary IPV services address the needs of Black survivors. Data collection included a brief demographic questionnaire and individual, semi-structured interviews via Zoom. Thematic analysis was used to identify key patterns in the data. Four themes emerged to reflect service providers’ perceptions of the availability, accessibility, and cultural responsiveness of IPV services for Black women: (1) Racist tropes minimize Black women’s lived experiences; (2) Criminal Justice as the default IPV remedy might not be an option for many Black women; (3) Traditional advocacy efforts may inadvertently reinforce the very oppression they aim to dismantle; and (4) Black advocates carry additional burdens in advocacy. The insights highlight the need for transformative IPV services that prioritize Black survivors’ voices and promote equity, safety, and healing beyond carceral systems.

This is a reflective piece written about my experiences as a social worker, manager, academic and researcher in the area of domestic abuse. I reflect on a specific domestic homicide that tragically took place when I was a team manager in a local authority child protection team in England. As I moved into academia, I took the opportunity to undertake a PhD, where I focused on the interactions between social workers and women who had been subjected to domestic abuse. This piece offers some reflection of my journey.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is closely associated with adverse sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes; yet most IPV service agencies offer limited SRH-related support. This study used a constructivist grounded theory approach to explore the perspectives of survivors and service providers on how SRH can be identified and addressed within agency settings. Data was collected through semi-structured focus groups and interviews with 29 participants, including survivors and direct service providers at IPV agencies in the Southwestern United States. Using coding and constant comparative analysis, conceptual categories were identified that describe the experiences of participants in IPV agencies and in accessing SRH care. These categories were used to construct a phased SRH assessment framework that integrates screening and assessment at multiple stages of service engagement. Grounded in survivor and provider perspectives, this framework offers a trauma-informed, practice-based resource to guide IPV agencies in strengthening SRH services and expanding cross-sector collaboration.

It is well documented that intimate partner violence and housing instability can profoundly impair survivors’ mental health, help-seeking efforts, and coping strategies. Few studies, however, focus on this population’s experiences in mental health therapy, and even fewer explore their thoughts on what therapists and survivors can do to facilitate a sustained, beneficial therapy experience. Informed by feminist therapy theory, this descriptive qualitative study addressed this gap by conducting phone interviews with intimate partner violence survivors who had a federal housing voucher (n = 21) recruited from a social work agency in a Mid-Atlantic U.S. city and a focus group with therapists employed by the agency (n = 3). We analyzed data using qualitative content analysis, involving a two-cycle coding process and constant comparison. Most of the participants were engaged in therapy at the time of the interview, and almost all had been in therapy previously. Participants’ advice for survivors coalesced into three main themes (i.e., “give it a try,” you need therapy to heal and move forward, and therapy is hard but worth it), as did their advice for therapists (i.e., “domestic violence is a deep subject” that requires specialized education, “follow the survivor,” and “have a holistic approach”). Findings suggest that supporting the mental health of survivors who have experienced housing instability requires increased access to low-cost, long-term therapy; use of survivor-defined, trauma-informed approaches; specialized training for therapists; and creative avenues to encourage survivor engagement in therapy. Social workers are uniquely positioned to advance these goals, given their person-in-environment approach and social justice orientation.

This exploratory study offers an interpretive phenomenological investigation of relational resilience and natural mentors among emerging adult women exposed to parental intimate partner violence (IPV) in childhood. Purposive sampling was used to recruit women ages 18–21 years of age who self-reported exposure to parental IPV in childhood, and described their own current and past romantic relationships as non-violent (N = 13). Semi-structured, in-depth interviews focused on participant experiences with self-defined healthy intimate relationships in the aftermath of childhood IPV exposure, and the potential role that natural mentors played in their relational resilience. Participant definitions of relational resilience were captured by four core themes: resistance to parental relationship patterns, identifying relationship essentials, prioritizing independence and self, and persevering through ups and downs. Participants identified natural mentors who served as a consistent source of connection and support in their lives, including aunts, grandparents, teachers, sisters, cousins, and peers. Four themes exemplified the role of natural mentors in participants’ relational resilience: a judgment-free zone to be oneself; physically showing up; care, compassion, and encouragement; and serving as a role model. Practice implications are discussed, including the potential for a natural mentorship intervention for this age group that builds on the core components of growth-fostering connections.

Resilience is a vital factor in the well-being of immigrant and refugee women (IRW) who experience intimate partner violence (IPV). Given the growing immigrant populations in the United States (U.S.) and pivotal role of resilience in rebuilding, healing, and breaking the cycle of violence, this paper explores the definitions, sources, barriers, and pathways of resilience among IRW from the perspective of domestic violence service providers. Using a socio-ecological framework, qualitative data for this study were collected with (n = 19) service providers in a Midwestern state. Data analysis followed the Rapid and Rigorous Qualitative Data Analysis (RADaR) technique and thematic analysis with an interactive team approach. Findings reveal the multifaceted nature of resilience, strategies to navigate adversity, and critical role of children, service providers, and financial autonomy in fostering and shaping resilience among IRW. These findings have significant implications for policy and practice emphasizing the need for trauma-informed, culturally responsive interventions that strengthen resilience and improve access to critical support systems for IRW experiencing IPV.

Latino adolescents experience high rates of multiple forms of dating violence (e.g., emotional, sexual, physical) both in-person and online. However, few interventions have been designed or adapted for Latino youth populations and is it critical that youth’s own voices translate to programming efforts. In this study, we explored Latino adolescents’ perceptions of a dating violence theatre intervention and solicited input on how the play may be adapted to reflect their dating experiences and cultural values. Youth participants (N = 95; Mage = 15.50) were from rural (n = 25) and urban (n = 75) areas of a Midwest state. After viewing a 20-minute play on teen dating violence, youth were divided into focus groups and assigned the role of a “playwright”. In this role, youth reviewed each scene of the play to assess its relevancy and to offer ways in which it could be more applicable to their lives. A group “sticky note” activity also prompted youth individually to describe how they felt after the play, what they had learned, and who they would turn to for help with dating violence. Finally, as a large group, youth discussed what it is like to date as a Latino teen, including how cultural values influence their dating experiences and help-seeking and help-offering behaviors. Data were analyzed thematically, yielding multiple recommendations for culturally and developmentally salient dating violence intervention. This study showcases how researchers can partner with community organizations to enact meaningful change while amplifying the voices of marginalized populations in the development of dating violence interventions.

There is relatively little research exploring culturally focused approaches in programs that support Native survivors of violence. This paper explores the use of culturally honoring services (CHS) among tribal advocacy programs that support Native and non-Native survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual violence as well as related crimes. With support from a statewide tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalition, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 individuals working in 10 federally recognized tribes in Michigan. Drawing on data, we define CHS as a culturally grounded, trauma-informed approach; describe how these approaches are utilized by Native and non-Native practitioners; and examine resources and challenges for doing so. Four themes related to the use of CHS were identified: (a) following survivors’ leads with openness, flexibility, and respect; (b) historical and contemporary disconnection; (c) financing systems and the influence of granting mechanisms; and (d) the importance of support networks. We conclude with recommendations for victim advocacy programs and for researchers that hope to collaborate with Native communities in delivering victim advocacy services.

Adolescent and young adult mothers investigated by child welfare experience multiple challenges, including high concentrations of poverty, housing instability, social isolation, mental health issues, and intimate partner violence (IPV). However, little is known about the lived experiences of young mothers involved with the child welfare system who have also encountered IPV. This study begins to address this gap by analyzing interview data of young mothers who had child welfare involvement in Ontario while pregnant or parenting and who noted experiencing IPV (n = 10). Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to understand their understanding and perspectives of their involvement with child welfare. Three themes related to this dual experience were identified. First, young mothers described being threatened with referral or being referred to child welfare by their former abusive partner as an additional method to exert control. Second, young mothers believed they were scrutinized for concerns related to the child’s father and his abusive behavior, rather than their own parenting abilities. Lastly, some believed that being in foster care during childhood increased their vulnerability to both IPV and child welfare involvement once they became parents. These findings suggest that child welfare workers should thoroughly check the referral source and may benefit from additional IPV training and use trauma-informed approaches when working with young mothers who are survivors of IPV. There is a need to improve the ways in which youth are supported while transitioning out of the child welfare system, to decrease their vulnerability to experiencing IPV and future child welfare involvement.

This article highlights promising macro and micro interventions for women who participated in +SHIFT, a cost-free antiviolence groupwork and case management program piloted in Victoria, Australia, due to their system-identified use of force. +SHIFT recognizes the harm endured by women as well as the harm caused by them. Through a thematic analysis of 21 interview transcripts, the authors identified four themes that captured women’s experiences: (1) program philosophy and curriculum components, (2) co-facilitated group structure, process and interactions (3) shared peer experiences and peer support, and (4) connecting curriculum content, life experience and personal accountability. The program approach was conceptualized by one woman as “planting seeds” for participants’ healing and awareness of alternative perspectives and behaviors that promote non-violent relationships.