Male survivors of childhood domestic violence : making sense of the abuse and its impact on relationships

Abstract

This study explores the narratives of five male survivors of childhood domestic violence. It takes into account the different types of abuse the participants were exposed to, and how they have understood its impact on their adult life and relationships. A narrative analysis, using individual semi-structured interviews enabled me to tap into the participants’ life stories, yielding rich descriptions of unique and untold experiences. The participants’ stories show that although there are certain similarities common to all the narratives, each story is unique. All males experienced a difficult and turbulent childhood growing up, lacking a loving and nurturing environment. This resulted in challenges later on in their intimate relationships. The males’ narratives also highlight their resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity. This study intends to add knowledge to the existing literature on male survivors of childhood domestic violence by offering useful and transferable findings to better understand the complexities involved. It also aims to support professionals working with family violence.