Divorce and Intimate Partner Violence

Barriers to Leaving a Violent Relationship

In addition to the threat of continued violence, several other factors have been associated with the decision to stay in or leave a violent relationship. Women with more financial independence (e.g., personal income, [Page 188]employment) are more likely to leave a violent relationship than economically disadvantaged women. Additionally, women who are less invested in the relationship (e.g., in terms of resources, time, love for their partner) and who exhibit fewer positive feelings toward their violent partner are more likely to leave their abuser. The size and quality of women's social support network is positively related to leaving and not returning to a violent relationship. The receipt of psychological abuse has also been implicated as a barrier to leaving a physically violent relationship. Psychologically abused partners may lose feelings of self-worth and assertiveness, possibly making it even more difficult for them to leave the relationship.

The decision to leave a violent relationship is considerably more complicated when children are involved. In addition to coping with the stressors of single parenthood (e.g., income, employment, child care), women separating in the context of victimization are at an increased risk of being revictimized during visitations and frequently worry about the safety of their children. Violent partners often use custody threats and threats to abduct or otherwise harm the children as a form of manipulation.

Based on the aforementioned difficulties with leaving a violent relationship and on the finding that women often separate from abusive partners, the focus should not be on why individuals stay in abusive relationships, but rather on what gives them the ability to leave.

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