The Role of Parenthood in the Healing Journey of Survivors of Attempted Intimate Partner Homicide

Abstract

Healing after attempted intimate partner homicide (IPH) is critical not only for women's psychological recovery but also for their ability to sustain parenting roles and rebuild family life in the aftermath of near-lethal violence. While existing research has examined women's survival of attempted IPH, little attention has been paid to their experiences as mothers and to the ways parenting may shape processes of healing. Drawing on narrative identity as a theoretical framework, this study explored the role of parenting in mothers' meaning-making and recovery following a near-lethal attack. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis methodology, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight mothers who had survived an attempted IPH. Four themes emerged: (1) Parenthood as a Healing Resource, (2) Parenthood as a Victory, (3) Parenting as a Barrier to Healing, and (4) What Does the Future Hold? The findings illuminate the ambivalent role of motherhood in the aftermath of attempted IPH, revealing how parenting can simultaneously foster resilience, purpose, and continuity while also intensifying emotional strain and constraining survivors' healing trajectories. These results point to the importance of trauma-informed, family- and parenting-sensitive interventions that recognize healing as a relational process embedded within ongoing caregiving responsibilities and family contexts.