BACKGROUND: Domestic violence (DV) is a serious concern with wide-ranging psychosocial consequences, including impacts on mental health, physical well-being, and social relationships. While domestic abuse and DV are related and often used interchangeably, intimate partner violence (IPV) refers more specifically to abuse occurring between current or former intimate partners. The aim of the study is to explore how DV affects both women and their children and how women cope with abuse within the cultural and social setting. METHODS: A qualitative study was performed using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with eight Saudi women who had experienced DV. Purposive sampling was used to select participants and interviews were conducted in Arabic, audio-recorded with consent, and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed thematically following Braun and Clarke's six-phase framework. Coding and theme development were performed and discrepancies were resolved through discussion to ensure consistency and credibility. RESULTS: The results identified three major themes: the impact of DV on women, the impact on their children, and the coping strategies women used. DV had emotional, physical, and social reported effects on both women and their children. Participants moved from silent endurance to active resistance. Most of them lacked emotional support from family and friends due to stigma and the controlling behavior of their partners. Besides this, the women showed strength and found ways to protect their children from harm. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that participants reported deep effects of DV on their sense of self-worth, particularly inadequate social support. These findings reflect the lived experiences of the participants and should be interpreted within the scope of a qualitative design. It further emphasizes the need for culturally appropriate services and public health interventions that address the wide-reaching effects of DV.
Elgamri et al. (Wed,) studied this question.