A Contextual Analysis of Battered Women’s Safety Planning

This study explored a frequently overlooked area of research—battered women’s safety planning strategies. Interviews were conducted with 160 women who experienced violence from an intimate partner and had at least one child aged 5 to 12. Women employed numerous and diverse strategies in attempting to keep themselves and their children safe. Their choices depended on several contextual factors, including severity of violence and relationship with assailant. Although contacting domestic violence programs and staying at domestic violence shelters were most likely to improve women’s situations, no strategies were universally effective. Clusters of safety planning strategies were identified to further understand women’s actions. Women who experienced the most violence and had assailants who engaged in the most behaviors indicative of potential lethality were most actively engaged in safety planning but remained in serious danger. These findings highlight the importance of community response and support in protecting survivors and holding assailants accountable.