School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
J Adv Nurs. 2024 Apr;80(4):1484-1496. doi: 10.1111/jan.15933. Epub 2023 Nov 3.
The aim of this study is to provide insight from maternal survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) describing their experiences with their ex-partners' firearm ownership, access, storage and behaviours in the context of co-parenting and separation.
We conducted a qualitative descriptive study informed by the IPV and Coparenting Model.
The analytic sample consists of self-identified maternal survivors (n = 14) who completed semi-structured qualitative interviews between January and May 2023 describing experiences of post-separation abuse. Participants were recruited through social media and domestic violence advocacy and legal aid organizations. In the interview guide, participants were asked one item about firearm exposure: Have you or your children had any experiences with guns and your ex-partner that made you or your children feel scared? Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Interview transcripts were managed and coded in ATLAS.ti using a codebook. Codes were applied using descriptive content analysis, discrepancies reconciled and themes related to firearm exposure in the context of post-separation abuse identified.
Six themes emerged related to firearm experiences and post-separation abuse: (1) gun ownership (2) gun access; (3) unsafe storage; (4) direct and symbolic threats; (5) involving the children; (6) survivors' protective actions.
This manuscript provides context on how abusive ex-partners' firearm ownership, access and threats cause terror and pervasive fear for mothers and children following separation. Analysis of qualitative data provides important insights into opportunities to address firearm injury prevention.
Findings add to the contextual understanding of how survivors of IPV experience non-fatal firearm abuse. Existing quantitative data may not capture the full extent of fear caused by perpetrators' gun ownership access and symbolic threats. Data from this study can help inform firearm injury prevention efforts.
The authors would like to acknowledge and thank the individuals who helped in cognitive testing of the interview guide prior to conducting interviews with participants, including (3) survivors of post-separation abuse. The authors would also like to acknowledge domestic violence advocates and those individuals who helped with recruitment and connected us with participants. Importantly, with deep gratitude, the authors would like to thank the participants who generously shared their time and stories with us.
本研究旨在深入了解亲密伴侣暴力（IPV）幸存者的经历，描述她们在共同育儿和分居期间，与前伴侣拥有枪支、接触枪支、储存枪支和行为相关的经历。
我们进行了一项基于 IPV 和共同育儿模型的定性描述研究。
分析样本由 14 名自我认定的母婴幸存者组成，她们在 2023 年 1 月至 5 月期间完成了半结构化定性访谈，描述了分居后的虐待经历。参与者通过社交媒体和家庭暴力倡导组织以及法律援助组织招募。在访谈指南中，参与者被问到一个关于枪支暴露的项目：你或你的孩子是否有过与你或你的孩子感到害怕的枪支和你的前伴侣相关的经历？访谈进行了录音并转录。使用 ATLAS.ti 对访谈记录进行了管理和编码，并使用代码簿进行了编码。使用描述性内容分析应用代码，解决差异，并确定与分居后虐待背景下枪支暴露相关的主题。
出现了六个与枪支经历和分居后虐待相关的主题：（1）枪支拥有；（2）枪支接触；（3）不安全储存；（4）直接和象征性威胁；（5）涉及孩子；（6）幸存者的保护行动。
本文提供了有关背景，说明前伴侣拥有、接触和威胁枪支如何导致母亲和孩子在分居后感到恐惧和普遍恐惧。对定性数据的分析为解决枪支伤害预防提供了重要见解。
研究结果增加了对 IPV 幸存者如何经历非致命性枪支滥用的背景理解。现有的定量数据可能无法捕捉到施害者枪支拥有、接触和象征性威胁所引起的恐惧的全部程度。本研究的数据可以帮助为枪支伤害预防工作提供信息。
作者要感谢在对参与者进行访谈之前，帮助对访谈指南进行认知测试的（3）位分居后虐待幸存者。作者还要感谢家庭暴力倡导者以及那些帮助招募并与我们联系的参与者的人。重要的是，我们衷心感谢参与者们慷慨地与我们分享他们的时间和故事。
