Echoes of a living body: A mind-body approach on how women victims of intimate partner violence experience their bodies

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a worldwide health problem. IPV impact on women’s embodiment remains embedded in their narratives. However, the subjective complexity of victims’ embodiment and its impact on healthcare still urges to be understood. We aimed to understand (i) how women victims of IPV experience their bodies and (ii) the impact of IPV in their embodiment. From a thematic analysis of six interviews with women victims, four themes arouse: Living body, Reaction to adversities, Impact of violence and Identity. Participants revealed a tendency to perceive negative bodily sensations, the body as restrictive of their ability to react to illnesses and other adversities, and impacts on health and decision-making processes. We encourage healthcare providers to be responsive to the feelings of physical and psychological exhaustion experienced by victims and highlight the potential of promoting positive bodily experiences in the support given to women.