Pathways to Seeking Help from a Partner Abuse Intervention Program: A Qualitative Study of Voluntary and Non-Court Mandated Latino Men's Experiences
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Date
2019Author
Davis, Maxine
Fernandez, Bruno
Jonson-Reid, Melissa
Kyriakakis, Stavroula
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**Please note that the full text is embargoed** ABSTRACT: Involvement in treatment for intimate partner violence and abuse (IPV/A) perpetration is
often limited to those who are arrested and convicted of domestic violence offenses.
Consequently, the majority of research into partner abuse intervention programs (PAIP; also
known as batterer intervention programs) has utilized data from court-mandated participants
despite the existence of voluntary programs. Therefore, little is known about the experiences of
voluntary and non-court mandated PAIP participants. Methods: Using an interpretive
phenomenological analysis, this study sought to understand how participants perceived their
lived experience in seeking help from a voluntary PAIP serving Latino men. Men volunteering
for this study participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews (N=16). Results: The findings
reveal that the decision to engage in a PAIP voluntarily is process laden. Participants described
the process as involving a breakdown in the health of their intimate relationship, reaching tipping
points at which avoiding help was no longer an option, and locating specific information on
where to seek treatment. The findings also reveal that once involved most participants
anticipated and desired to engage in the program long-term. Discussion: This study illuminates
the many factors that may contribute to decision making when men who have acted abusively
seek help. Strategies for increasing voluntary PAIP participation may involve enhancing
marketing of services or information for accessing services, and personal relationship building
between facilitators and potential participants. [This is a pre-print of an article published by SAGE in Journal of Journal of Interpersonal Violence on November 5, 2019, available online: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/088626051988468]