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Abstract: 

Women with children are three times more likely to experience domestic violence than childless women (Humphreys,2007), and the incidence of domestic violence is highest during pregnancy and following birth (Taft, 2002). Nonetheless, surprisingly little is known about women’s experience of building relationships with their infants while enduring domestic violence. From 2009 to 2011, the author conducted qualitative research with 16 women who had mothered infants in the context of domestic violence to uncover knowledge about how the violence affects the formation of their relationships with their infants. The results of the study shed new light on the protective responses of mothers subjected to sustained hostility toward the mother/infant relationships, with practice implications for professionals. (Buchanan, F., 2012; Buchanan, F., Power, C. & Verity F., 2013). Prior research concludes that domestic violence harms the social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral development of infants and young children (Jaffe, Sunderman & Geffner, 2000; Holt, Buckley & Whelan, 2008). Studies that focus on women’s mothering role in domestic violence reach varying conclusions about the manner in which domestic violence affects mothering (Mullender et al., 2002; Casanueva, Martin, Rinyan, Barth & Bradley, 2008). When women are asked to describe their experiences of mothering in the context of domestic violence, most women think that their mothering is affected both positively and negatively. When subjected to the sustained hostility created by domestic violence, maternal protectiveness becomes paramount, but time for women to form relationships with their infants is restricted.

Keywords: domestic violence creates an environment of sustained hostility directed at developing mother/infant relationships’ pressures on the mother/infant relationship are ongoing

Affiliations:  1: University of South Australia.