THE PROCESS OF RESILIENCE IN WOMEN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: A QUALITATIVE APPROACH

Abstract

This is descriptive, qualitative research undertaken in a municipal domestic violence shelter service, in Curitiba, in the Brazilian state of Paraná, with eight women who were victims of domestic violence. The objectives were to identify the trajectory of the women’s resilience and to investigate the factors which predispose to resilience. Data collection occurred between November 2010 and February 2011, through open interviews which were recorded and transcribed. The discourses, analyzed using thematic content analysis, revealed the theme:The strength of maternal love interrupting the cycle of domestic violence and making the process of resilience possible. It was evidenced that the process of resilience was initiated when the children came to be victims of violence and that staying in the shelter created the possibility of overcoming what had been experienced and possibilities for a better future. The women’s experiences, and the factors of resilience, offer support for Nursing, making it possible to undertake nursing actions and care in accordance with the women’s experiences.

Keywords

• Nursing
• Women's health
• Qualitative research
• Violence against women