Do Specialized Social Welfare and Women's Shelter Services Make a Difference? A Swedish Pre–Post Study on Domestic Violence Interventions

Purpose: Violence against women is a major public health concern. Comparative research on outcomes across different service providers remains limited. Method: Women seeking support from social welfare units or women's shelters were recruited from six organizations in Sweden. A pre–post design was applied, with structured interviews and questionnaires at baseline and 1-year follow-up. Fifty-one women participated. Results: Psychological violence was most frequently reported form of abuse, followed by physical and sexual violence. At follow-up, participants in both groups showed significant improvements in mental health and self-esteem. Furthermore, trauma-related symptoms decreased significantly among participants. Overall satisfaction with the interventions was high. Discussion : The findings indicate improved mental health and high satisfaction among women who received support. Results highlight the critical role of social work and shelters addressing complex and long-term support needs. The findings underscore the importance of comprehensive and sustained interventions to promote healing among women exposed to IPV.