Coercive control, domestic violence, and a five-factor framework: Five factors that influence closeness, distance, and strain in mother–child relationships

Abstract

Some mother–child relationships become more strained and distant than others in domestic violence contexts, but the processes influencing this are little understood. Qualitative interviews with 15 mothers and 15 children were held to explore their experiences. Findings suggested that five interlinked factors influenced levels of closeness, distance, and strain in mother–child relationships: (1) perpetrator’s/father’s behavior toward children, (2) perpetrator’s/father’s use of domestic violence, (3) perpetrator’s/father’s undermining of mother–child relationship, (4) mother’s ability to emotionally connect to children, and (5) children’s views of mother and perpetrator/father. These findings have global significance for services and practitioners who work with domestic violence–experienced mothers and children and may help to tailor responses more effectively to mothers’ and children’s needs.