Perceptions of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Among Young Canadian Women

This paper examines young women’s perceptions of intimate partner violence (IPV) and contextual factors that help shape these perceptions. Qualitative research using in-depth focus groups were conducted with diverse young women, aged 18 to 24 years, from diverse backgrounds, living in Toronto, Canada. Open-ended and semi-structured interview questions were designed to elicit information regarding how young women think about, describe , and define IPV. Thematic analysis was used to identify the core constructs that shape young women’s understandings. Findings suggested that young women clearly defined IPV and considered psychological, physical and sexual acts as abusive. However, contextual factors related to the nature of abuse, such as the type and frequency of abuse and intent of the aggressor to cause harm, as well as factors related to the social context such as the acceptance of mutual aggression, power and control, influenced their ability to recognize IPV in their own relationships. Understanding the contextual factors shaping young women’s perceptions of IPV can inform the development of effective IPV prevention education programs for young women