Multidimensional Women’s Empowerment as a Protective Determinant in Intimate Partner Violence Prevention: A Qualitative, Culture-Informed Inquiry in Iran

This qualitative investigation examines the multifaceted dimensions of women’s empowerment as a pivotal protective determinant against intimate partner violence (IPV) within the unique sociocultural landscape of Iran. Employing an inductive, conventional content analysis methodology rooted in 31 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Iranian women, this study transcends conventional theoretical frameworks to reveal culturally embedded constructs of empowerment. Analytical rigor was achieved through the Granheim and Lundman five-step process, facilitated by MAXQDA software, which identified four primary empowerment domains: Skill/Communication Empowerment, Psychological Empowerment, Economic Empowerment, and Spiritual Empowerment. These domains encompass a broad spectrum of capabilities, including negotiation and decision-making skills, emotional self-regulation, assertiveness, social support networks, economic autonomy, perceived legal rights, resilience, and spiritual hope. This study emphasizes the multidimensional and culturally nuanced nature of empowerment that facilitates women’s agency to prevent, manage, and recover from IPV. The findings offer vital, evidence-based insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers dedicated to designing targeted, culturally informed interventions and empowerment programs to combat IPV and promote gender equity in Iran and comparable contexts. By integrating qualitative methodological rigor with cultural sensitivity, this research substantially contributes to the global discourse on IPV prevention and women’s empowerment as a fundamental human rights and public health priority.