In my master’s thesis, I examine the perspective of a child as an indirect victim of coercive control in their parents’ intimate partner relationship. Coercive control is a concept developed by Evan Stark that describes a pattern of systematic restriction, monitoring, and subjugation of the victim, which is carried out through various acts of psychological, economic, social, and physical abuse. Although coercive control is characteristic of intimate partner relationships, the question arises as to what its impact is on children and how they respond to it. The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of knowledge about coercive control among social workers at social work centers and how they recognize it. I was also interested in how social workers collaborate with victims of coercive control and their children, and how they provide them with appropriate support and assistance in managing contact with the perpetrator. Through this research, I also sought to determine how social workers involve children in the process of identifying coercive control, what role the children play, and what impact this has on them. Finally, I was interested in the experiences of service users when interacting with social workers at social work centers, and how both the process of identifying and addressing coercive control and the procedures for providing support and assistance could be improved in the future. I obtained answers to these questions through qualitative research, specifically using the method of semi-structured interviews. Eight social workers employed at seven different social work centers participated in the study. Through my research, I found that social workers recognize acts of coercive control but do not recognize them as a systemic pattern of behavior. The process of providing support and assistance in managing contact with the perpetrator while the victim is still living with him is focused on increasing safety and preventing or mitigating the consequences of coercive control. During this period, victims are encouraged to leave the abusive relationship. During the period when the victim leaves the abusive relationship and goes through a divorce, the work of professional staff is primarily focused on ensuring safe contact with the perpetrator of violence. The study also showed that separation or divorce from the perpetrator of coercive control does not necessarily mean an end to coercive behavior. I found that there is a prevailing belief among social workers regarding the necessity of distinguishing between parental and partner roles, even in cases involving coercive control. Social workers involve children in the work process in various ways. Collaboration with them is primarily focused on establishing a safe relationship and providing appropriate support and assistance. At the same time, the research results showed that professionals recognize both the indirect and direct involvement of children in the exercise of coercive control. Finally, the research findings highlight the need to raise awareness about coercive control both in society and among professionals.
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