Intimate Partner Violence Incidents and Solutions Reported by Turkish Couples in Long-Term Marriages

• In Event: 2266 - Family Section Roundtables (1 hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: 1. Bullying, Family Violence, and Mental Health

Abstract

This qualitative study aims to investigate the relationship between intimate partner violence and the duration of marriage in the Turkish context, and explore spouses' perceptions, experiences, and solutions concerning intimate partner violence. Using purposive and snowball sampling methods, thirty married Turkish couples who were married for twenty or more years were selected. A semi-structured interview form, observation, and socio-demographic questionnaire were used as data collection tools. Analysis of data indicated that although some instances of physical violence were reported during the first years of marriage, physical violence was not stated in the majority of long-term marriages. The most reported type of violence was psychological violence. Spouses' proposed solutions for preventing domestic violence were identifying the determinants of intimate partner violence, encouraging religion and values education, solving financial problems, communication, patience, learning respect, love and responsibility and divorce.

Author

• Mehmet Balkanlioglu, Wayne State College