SHN6192 Professional Learning Through Work Assignment Sample

INTRODUCTION - SHN6192 Professional Learning Through Work

Background of the project

Domestic violence involves economical, sexual, emotional and physical abuse; majority of women facing domestic abuse and this is significantly impacting their over-all wellbeing. Intimate partner abuse is a pervasive public health issue significantly, impacting women (Bates and Douglas, 2020). In accordance with World Health Organisation [WHO] approximately 30% of the women worldwide are victim of domestic abuse (WHO, 2022). Physical, emotional, sexual and psychological abuse by family members and intimate partners often develop profound influence on physical and mental health of women. In UK around 1.6 million women suffering from domestic abuse and majority of the cases remains underreported due to social stigma and lack of awareness in females (NHS, 2022). Research depicts that power imbalance which is responsible for domestic abuse within family context involves cyclic nature and positivism beliefs within families. Systematic barrier leading to create issues for women in reporting cases; due to this females are not able to receive adequate support (Femi-Ajao, Kendal and Lovell, 2020).

Physical, emotional and psychological impact of domestic violence is profound; females who face domestic abuse suffer from burns, bruising, broken bones, cuts and lacerations that impact their physical safety. Moreover women are at higher risk of developing depression, post traumatic disorder, anxiety and attempting suicide (Heron, Eisma and Browne, 2022). The present research project aims to conduct research and examine multidimensional impacts of domestic violence on women within family setting in UK, and detailed analysis of emotional, psychological and physical impacts would be done. This study will be informed by Evan Stark’s Coercive Control theory which highlights the patterns associates with psychological abuse and used to dominate women.

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Report structure

The report will be comprised with different sections that include- acknowledgement, executive summary, table of content, introduction, literature review, methodology, results and discussion, reflection and conclusion. This report is structured as follows:-

Section 1 provides background information while section 2 reviews relevant literature including feminist and coercive control theory. Section 3 explains the qualitative methodology. Section 4 highlights results and undertakes discussion, section 4 performs reflection and section 5 presents conclusion.

Aim and objectives

Aim

To examine the effects of domestic violence on women within a family setting, focusing on its physical, emotional, psychological, and social consequences, as well as its impact on family dynamics and women's overall well-being.

Objectives

• To explore the types and patterns of domestic violence experienced by women in family settings.
• To analyze the physical, emotional, and psychological impacts of domestic violence on women.
• To assess the effect of domestic violence on women within the family setting

Research Question

What are the physical, emotional, and psychological impacts of domestic violence on women within a family setting?

LITERATURE REVIEW

Theme 1- Impact on mental health

In the study of Sohal et al, (2020) it has evident Domestic violence against women in family setting extends far beyond physical assault, it comprehends with range of insidious behaviour that exert control and power. Literature articulated that prevalence of sexual, emotional, psychological, mental and physical abuse is high in the pursuit of domestic violence. However, contemporary evidences, research and policies are highly influenced by “Concept of Coercive given by Evan Stark. It emphasise on the existing pattern or behaviour that aims to isolate, exploit, degrading and controlling women’s autonomy. This theoretical lens providing wider view of incident-specific violence captured through cumulative that often involves threats, surveillance and manipulation within physical acts (Sohal et al, 2020). The suffocating nature in intimate relationship impacts women mental wellbeing whilst, women are not able to take any legal action due to subjectivity pressure of society. In accordance with Stewart and Arnull (2023) women are disproportionately affected due to diverse forms of intimate partner violence and attempt of coercive control. The traditional definitions of domestic violence only focus on physical violence.

However, Karavias et al, (2023) stated that domestic violence is just not limited to physical abuse; it drastically impact psychological, mental and emotional wellbeing of women and contributes in developing chronic illness. In UK; domestic violence is considered as illegal; The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 focuses on safeguarding victims of domestic abuse and provide social and financial support to women (Domestic Abuse Act, 2021).The females are supported and they can fight case against abusers whilst, systematic barriers and societal stigma reduces morals of women and thereby, they refuse to seek support. In accordance with physical, psychological and emotional influence on women is profound and further these are long lasting. In physical context injuries ranges from bruising to chronic fractures and decreases physical abilities of women.

Theme 2- Cultural and socioeconomic barriers

Psychologically women suffer from severe mental health issue such as-depression that leads to consistent negative and suicidal thoughts (Karavias et al, 2023). Constant fear erodes resilience capabilities in women and drastically influences their mental wellbeing. On emotional note, consistent abuse foster feeling of shame, isolation, worthlessness, guilt and this further reduces self-esteem among women. Whilst, Heron, Eisma and Browne (2022) revealed that these impacts are not merely the result of a single domestic abuse; it is ongoing cumulative nature compounded by coercive control that develops adverse trauma for females and they requires immediate trauma-informed care support. From the literature it has been identified that male with coercive control nature views women as object and thereby, they chose abuse to show their superiority and power.

McPhee et al, (2022) depicted that in family settings domestic violence has been disrupting established roles and relationship; home is recognised as a place of safety. However, due to domestic abuse it becomes a site of terror. Primarily, it alters sense of security and belonging in women; mother’s relation with their children is often manipulated due to abuse. Abuser often involves children in violence and harms them and this develops drastic impact on mother as well as children. In many individuals intergenerational transmission of trauma is witnessed as they have seen their mothers protecting themselves from abuse while facing violence (McPhee et al, (2022). Issues related to leaving, involving, housing and finance are connected with deep emotions of women that make separation difficult for them. Family setting is not just merely recognised as a location however, it is an environment that controlled and shaped by abusers and further victim isolate themselves in this environment and refuse to take help.

Theme 3- Theoretical perspective

It is essential to addresses all of these complexities; UK has made effectual focus n this context and specialist domestic violence services such as refuges, helpline, police support, health service, legal and community support ensures that women gets adequate help. Feminist theory focuses on empowering women and all of the available domestic violence services are compounds with women centred services that empower females and make them aware about their rights (McPhee et al, 2022). However, Katz, Nikupeteri and Laitinen (2020) stated that funding challenges and accessing barriers due to culturally and geographical differences acts as barrier in supporting women. While Stark (2007) focusing on coercive patterns, whereas McPhee et al. (2022) argue that systemic institutional failings exacerbate women’s inability to seek support and this is identified as an important factor view is underrepresented in mainstream policy. Females are facing varied barriers in accessing support that involves lack of awareness regarding services, fear of retaliation, past negative experience and practical constraints such as finances and childcare. It is important that policymakers must identify these issues and accordingly, interventions should be implemented so that consistent support to females could be provided.

METHODOLOGY

Methods used in project and justification

The research followed qualitative method; it comprised with the collection of theoretical instances. The scholar collected theoretical data over statistical data because this is appropriate as per research context. The study focused on analysing the impact of domestic violence on women while considering different factors. Henceforth, in order to gain wider understanding regarding each factor textual data was needed and thereby scholar followed qualitative research method (Bos, 2020). Furthermore, scholar followed interpretivism philosophy over positivism philosophy as this is adequate for textual data. Consequently, beliefs of people aligned with research area have been identified through analysing perception of different authors and quality outcomes were developed (Davidson, 2019). In order to collect the data scholar had two options; primary and secondary; due to ethical concern researcher preferred secondary method and accordingly wider data was gained. The secondary method is cost effective and further it consumes less time thereby, scholar approached this source.

Whilst, compliance with primary source requires direct interaction with domestic violence victims and there might be possibility that women does not feel comfortable in sharing their experience as this is linked with trauma (Helyer et al. 2020) Thereby, secondary method has been selected and accordingly authentic databases such as-PubMed, Google Scholar and JSTOR were considered. Furthermore, information from NHS England has been taken for identifying the impact on domestic violence on women in UK. The researcher followed inclusion and exclusion criteria; in inclusion criteria only peer-reviewed articles which are published after 2019 was selected. Furthermore studies based on doesmtic violence were prioritised. Whereas, exclusion criteria involve all those articles which were not peer-reviewed, uploaded before 2019 and focusing on other concerns rather than domestic violence. Thus, these studies were excluded from the research. However, limitation of using secondary data comprised with relying on existing studies that might not fully highlight real-time experiences of marginalised groups.

For analysing the data, thematic analysis preferred by researcher as it is appropriate for analysing qualitative data (Tuttle, 2018). Subsequently, different themes were implemented and in-depth analysis of each research objective was done. Ethics plays pivotal role in research and thereby, scholar emphasised significant focus on this area and accordingly, academic integrity was maintained and no plagiarism was done (Singhal and Bhatt, 2017). Appropriate referencing was done and no harm towards anyone created in the pursuit of conducting research. Additionally, reliability and validity of the articles was analysed by checking their publication and published date. This supported researcher in maintaining ethics within study.

Description of project planning and implementation

Table 1-Project timeline

Period	Activities
3 weeks	Selecting articles from secondary sources and conducting literature review
4 weeks	Undertaking thematic analysis and developing different themes.
5 weeks	Finalising research report and including detailed analysis, reflection and conclusion.

The project planning consists with description of aim, objectives, question, methods and expected outcomes. All of these aspects were mentioned in proposal part and detailed project planning was analysed within proposal. In terms of implementation the prior activity undertaken was “conducting literature review and accordingly, data was gathered from secondary resources. For selecting articles, inclusion and exclusion criteria were followed and by preferring authentic databases articles were selected. Afterwards, thematic analysis of the gathered data was undertaken and different themes were implemented. Lastly, research report was finalised by including detailed analysis, reflection and conclusion.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Presenting project outcomes, Interpretation of results and discussion

Theme 1- physical, emotional, and psychological impacts of domestic violence

From the secondary sources it has been witnessed that violence towards women is prevalent problem in UK (Heron, Eisma and Browne, 2022). It develops profound negative influence on female’s ability to live peaceful and productive lives; domestic abuse or spousal abuse leading to exorbitant emotional, psychological consequences; Intimate Partner Violence [IPV] leads to chronic pain, injury, gastrointestinal and gynaecological issues and even death. Many women often suffers from rape and violence when they are pregnant and this creates severe harm for mother and child; IPV leads to numerous mental health consequences complies with anxiety, depression, stress, post-traumatic disorder, substance abuse and decreased self-esteem. The emotional impact of domestic violence on women is profound as their own spouse abuses and creates a destructive environment at home (Chandan et al, 2020). Further, fear of separation reduces resilience capabilities in women and they become self-destructive, self-critical and further attempts suicide. Both authors; Heron, Eisma and Browne (2022) and Chandan et al, (2020) states about drastic psychological impacts experienced by women due to domestic violence. Such incidents creates long-lasting trauma for women; for instance- if a woman protects herself from abusive relationship and try to start new life whilst, trauma from past haunt her and she will not able to trust anyone in future. This is how trauma develops long-lasting impact on women and their lives.

Theme 2- social economic and cultural factors contributing in domestic violence

From the findings it is evident that social, cultural and economic factors are contributing in increasing cases of domestic violence. Social factors such as- poverty, housing instability and unemployment significantly leads to increase domestic violence cases (Walker-Descartes et al, 2021). Additionally, social norms such as historical trauma condone violence and unequal gender role also playing pivotal role in this context. Studies revealed that there is strong correlation exist between domestic violence and poverty; females suffering from economic hardship are likely to be in abusive relationship (Walker-Descartes et al, 2021). Due to lack of stable housing and living facilities women often had fear of separation from their spouse and they become the victim of domestic violence. Lack of education also playing major role in this context as women is not aware of the support they can receive and thereby, they are not able to raise their voices (Walker-Descartes et al, 2021). In many culture, a positivism approach is followed where men acknowledge themselves superior from women and shows an authority and control over women. However, this creates significant barrier for females in accessing support as no one from family support female in raising their voice against abuse.

Cultural difference in UK contributing in domestic violence by impacting the attitude of family dynamics, marriage and gender roles this is increasing vulnerability and barriers towards accessing support (Wessells and Kostelny, 2022). Particularly, community norms such as religious-belief often normalised domestic violence and makes it difficult for survivors in leaving abusive relationship for seeking support. Economical factors particularly, financial hardship and unemployment contributing in increasing cases of domestic violence. Due to lack of financial support women are not able to take any legal action against the abuse and further they fear while separating from their spouse (Stubbs and Szoeke, 2022). Economic abuse is another important factor in this context where a partner majorly, men controls and have complete access to financial resource and therefore, they control women through abuse and violence.

Theme 3- actionable insights for assisting policymakers, organisation and healthcare providers

Figure 1-Power and Control Wheel Model

Source- https://www.thehotline.org/identify-abuse/power-and-control/

Domestic violence is considered as the pattern of behaviour adopted for gaining and maintaining power control; the Power and Control Wheel Model depicts about the tactics used by abusive partners, inside of wheel describe about consistent behaviour over a specific period, whole outer ring highlights sexual and physical violence (White et al, 2024). Thus, abusive actions are articulated in outer ring that reinforce use of more subtle method mentioned in inner ring. Relationship abuse is complex to explain through single diagram however, this model is providing wider insights and thereby, policy makers, healthcare providers and organisations should consider this model for finding the impacts of abuse on women (Potter et al, 2021). Effective understanding of this model enable in identifying whether the victim is facing psychological, mental or physical abuse which form of abuse is creating drastic impact and accordingly, holistic support should be provided. Furthermore, multidisciplinary teams should be implemented for assessing whether women from rural areas are getting support or not.

REFLECTION

Project experience

This project has provided me significant opportunities and I have developed effective insights related to domestic violence and its impact on women in family settings. I must say that this experience concerned with positive as well as negative experience. When I started undertaking research in this context; I was very keen to know the results. However, at initial stage I was not able to manage my time. I was overburdened with my other assignment and own work at home and this developed issues for me at initial stage. Due to this, I was not able to make aim and objectives of research on time. I must say that in this issue my tutor has ensured significant support. I shared my issue with tutor and as per tutor guidance I made a timetable that comprised with my research activities and its completion date. This supported me in undertaking my practices on time and I have improved my ability to manage time.

Challenges encountered and solutions

There were certain challenges encountered while completing the project and the foremost challenge aligns with ineffective critical analysis and researching skills. I have followed secondary research in the project; however, during starting stage I observed that I am lacking in critical analysis and researching skills. Ineffective critical analysis ability was impacting my decision making while selecting articles. In order to solve this challenge, I have focused on writing inclusion and exclusion criteria for selecting articles. Accordingly, I have included mandatory aspect in inclusion column whereas, exclusion column contains with the domains that needed to be discarded while searching articles. This supported me in selecting appropriate articles and by using authentic database such as PubMed, Google Scholar and NHS England I have collected the data. This leads to enhance my ability to research peer-reviewed and high quality articles.

Personal and team reflection on learning experience

In personal context, I can say that I got the opportunity to conduct research; this supported me in understanding the ways and methods in which secondary research should be conducted. I have undertaken thematic analysis and this enabled me to undertake effective interpretation of the findings. Moreover, I have developed significant insights regarding the methodologies; I have learned that as per the nature of research methodology should be selected. Also, it is important to provide detailed justification of method and accordingly, implication of selected tactics should be done for collecting data. Working in team enhanced my collaboration and coordination with other team members and I have realised that collaboration while working in team is utmost. I will use this learning in future and this supports me in conducting future researches in effective manner.

Skills and knowledge developed

Through this research I have developed time management, critical analysis and research skills. These are crucial in academic context and support scholar in completing the research on time and further supports in approaching quality articles for developing findings. The important insights which have been developed is related to ethics; I got to know that ethics plays crucial role in conducting research and it is the responsibility of scholar that they must follow mandatory ethics. Thereby, I have maintained academic integrity throughout the research and further, no harm created towards anyone. Moreover, the research was conducted for promoting social good and extent of domestic violence faced by women was highlighted and specific emphasis was implied on physical, emotional, and psychological impacts of domestic violence. The research was undertaken for informing interventional strategies to policymakers and healthcare providers so they can ensure support to women. Furthermore, this research developed awareness among women so they can get support from organisations such as- Refuge UK. Furthermore, I have completed E-learning courses of 60 hours related to Safeguarding women suffering from domestic violence. For improving my critical appraisal skills, I focus on completing complete one peer-reviewed article evaluation every fortnight for the next six months. “In order to develop my applied safeguarding knowledge, I plan to complete the SafeLives Domestic Abuse Awareness Certificate within the next 3 months and shadow a support worker in a local women’s refuge as part of my Level 7 progression.

Application of academic concept in practical context

I have integrated academic concept in practical working; during my course I have learned that women in family setting are still facing domestic violence and these has been manifested in varied forms such as- physical, emotional, and psychological. The domestic abuse impacts overall wellbeing of women and further this remains underreported due to stigma. When I started to undertake research; I used my existing knowledge and I realised that there is no difference between academic learning and practical reality in terms of domestic violence. There are number of females who are struggling with domestic violence but they are not able to take support due to societal pressure, trauma and stigma.

CONCLUSION

Conclusively; this can be said that women are facing drastic impacts due to domestic violence and a robust mechanism is needed to adopt for understanding the diverse experience of women and consequently, action should be taken. Physical, psychological and emotional impacts of domestic abuse are varied and this is leading to develop chronic issues and long-lasting traumas for women. Integration of power and control wheel model and related concepts such as “concept of coercion is important for understanding the causes behind the abuse and mindset of abusers. Moreover, implication of multidisciplinary teams is important so that women who are not aware of the support can receive appropriate support and further awareness needs to be developed among them. This project experience has proven effective in developing varied insights regarding the factors contributing in domestic violence. It is important to understand the root cause acting as a barrier and influence women resilience. Therefore, future research will focus on analysing the “socioeconomic and cultural barriers leading to domestic violence among women. In-depth analysis of these factors would be done so that social, economic and cultural determinants could be identified in detail. In this manner, scholar will be able to develop detailed insights related to domestic violence. Hence, the research has met its objectives and consequently, identified about the factors and impacts of domestic violence.

REFERENCES

Books and Journals

Bates, E. A., & Douglas, E. M. (2020). Services for domestic violence victims in the United Kingdom and United States: Where are we today?. Partner abuse.

Bos, J. (2020) Research ethics for students in the social sciences. First edition, 2020. [Online]. Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Chandan, J. S., Gokhale, K. M., Bradbury-Jones, C., Nirantharakumar, K., Bandyopadhyay, S., & Taylor, J. (2020). Exploration of trends in the incidence and prevalence of childhood maltreatment and domestic abuse recording in UK primary care: a retrospective cohort study using ‘the health improvement network’database. BMJ open, 10(6), e036949.

Davidson, J. P. (2019) Everyday project management. First edition. Oakland, California: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.

Femi-Ajao, O., Kendal, S., & Lovell, K. (2020). A qualitative systematic review of published work on disclosure and help-seeking for domestic violence and abuse among women from ethnic minority populations in the UK. Ethnicity & Health, 25(5), 732-746.

Helyer, R. et al. (2020) The work-based learning student handbook. Third edition. London: Macmillan Education.

Heron, R. L., Eisma, M. C., & Browne, K. (2022). Barriers and facilitators of disclosing domestic violence to the UK health service. Journal of Family Violence, 37(3), 533-543.

Heron, R. L., Eisma, M. C., & Browne, K. (2022). Barriers and facilitators of disclosing domestic violence to the UK health service. Journal of Family Violence, 37(3), 533-543.

Heron, R. L., Eisma, M., & Browne, K. (2022). Why do female domestic violence victims remain in or leave abusive relationships? A qualitative study. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 31(5), 677-694.

Karavias, Y., Bandyopadhyay, S., Christie, C., Bradbury-Jones, C., Taylor, J., Kane, E., & Flowe, H. D. (2023). Impact evaluation and economic benefit analysis of a domestic violence and abuse UK police intervention. Frontiers in psychology, 14, 1063701.

Katz, E., Nikupeteri, A., & Laitinen, M. (2020). When coercive control continues to harm: Post‐separation fathering, stalking and domestic violence. Child abuse review, 29(4), 310-324.

McPhee, D., Hester, M., Bates, L., Lilley-Walker, S. J., & Patsios, D. (2022). Criminal justice responses to domestic violence and abuse in England: An analysis of case attrition and inequalities using police data. Policing and society, 32(8), 963-980.

Potter, L. C., Morris, R., Hegarty, K., García-Moreno, C., & Feder, G. (2021). Categories and health impacts of intimate partner violence in the World Health Organization multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence. International journal of epidemiology, 50(2), 652-662.

Singhal, A. & Bhatt, P. (2017) 9 habits of project leaders: experience and data-driven practical advice in project execution. 1st edition. Newtown Square, Pennsylvania: Project Management Institute.

Sohal, A. H., Feder, G., Boomla, K., Dowrick, A., Hooper, R., Howell, A., ... & Griffiths, C. (2020). Improving the healthcare response to domestic violence and abuse in UK primary care: interrupted time series evaluation of a system-level training and support programme. BMC medicine, 18, 1-10.

Stewart, S., & Arnull, E. (2023). Mothers, domestic violence, and child protection: The UK response. Violence against women, 29(3-4), 626-647.

Stubbs, A., & Szoeke, C. (2022). The effect of intimate partner violence on the physical health and health-related behaviors of women: A systematic review of the literature. Trauma, violence, & abuse, 23(4), 1157-1172.

Tuttle, S. (2018) Prince2® in action: project management in real terms: project management in real terms. 1st edition. Cambridgeshire: IT Governance Publishing.

Walker-Descartes, I., Mineo, M., Condado, L. V., & Agrawal, N. (2021). Domestic violence and its effects on women, children, and families. Pediatric Clinics, 68(2), 455-464.

Wessells, M. G., & Kostelny, K. (2022). The psychosocial impacts of intimate partner violence against women in LMIC contexts: toward a holistic approach. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(21), 14488.

White, S. J., Sin, J., Sweeney, A., Salisbury, T., Wahlich, C., Montesinos Guevara, C. M., ... & Mantovani, N. (2024). Global prevalence and mental health outcomes of intimate partner violence among women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 25(1), 494-511.

Online

Domestic Abuse Act, 2021 Online Available through < https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2021/17/contents>

NHS, 2022. Online Available through < https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/getting-help-for-domestic-violence/#:~:text=women%20can%20call%20The%20Freephone,doctor%2C%20health%20visitor%20or%20midwife>

WHO, 2022. Online Available through https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women