Entangled Care: The Complex Role of Mothers in Adult Intimate Partner Violence Survivors’ Lives

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.