In this master’s thesis, we explored the decision-making process of women leaving an abusive intimate partner relationship during pregnancy and early motherhood.
In the theoretical part, we defined the characteristics and dynamics of intimate partner violence (IPV) and presented its specific features in the periods of pregnancy and early motherhood. Special attention was devoted to the processes involved in deciding to leave an abusive relationship, the coping strategies women develop to protect themselves and their children, and the role of formal and informal support systems. We also highlighted the complexity of the internal processes that accompany the decision to leave, as well as the influence of the maternal role, discouraging responses from the social environment, and various forms of control and manipulation that may keep women in abusive relationships.
The empirical part of the research was based on a phenomenological approach, whose aim was to gain an in-depth understanding of the process of leaving a relationship among women who had experienced intimate partner violence during pregnancy or early motherhood. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with six young mothers who had already left an abusive relationship.
The results of the study showed that deciding to leave an abusive intimate partner relationship is a long and complex process marked by internal conflicts and feelings of fear, guilt, shame, and responsibility toward the child. Violence often begins gradually and women initially do not recognize it as abuse but rather minimize or rationalize it. Pregnancy and early motherhood emerged as important turning points in the process. On the one hand, these periods can increase women’s vulnerability and contribute to remaining in the relationship; on the other hand, concern for the child often becomes the key motivation for deciding to leave. The decision-making process also involves a gradual shift from passive coping strategies toward more active forms of seeking help.
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