Exploring the Resilience, Strengths, Coping Strategies, and Cultural Influences in African Families Impacted by Intimate Partner Violence: A Scoping Review

Efforts to ascertain the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Africa have been ongoing, but comparatively, scant attention has been directed toward investigating the coping strategies utilized by families affected by IPV as well as the cultural dynamics that influence their actions. This scoping review examines the literature on the coping strategies and cultural influences that affect families experiencing IPV in Africa. Using the methodology outlined by Arksey and O’Malley, we conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases, identifying 35 articles conducted across 10 African countries that met our inclusion criteria. Studies were selected based on their focus on IPV survivors in Africa and their attention to coping strategies, strengths, and cultural influences. In line with the four-factor model of coping strategies by Ayers et al., our review highlights active coping (problem-solving behaviors and cognitive restructuring), avoidance coping (minimizing or ignoring stressors), distraction coping (diverting attention through emotional release or activities) and seeking social support among African IPV families. In addition, culturally based coping mechanisms, including silence, placating behaviors, and leveraging religious and community support, were also identified. These findings underscore the complex interplay of individual, cultural, and contextual factors influencing coping strategies in the context of IPV in African families.