Research on post-separation abuse and health consequences

Research has shown that gender-based violence in intimate relationships is rarely limited to isolated incidents, but is often characterised by repetition and patterns of control over time and space. For many women, the violence does not end at the point of separation, but continues, often in new forms. In recent years, this phenomenon has been referred to as post-separation abuse, encompassing various forms of continued abuse, control and exertion of power after the formal relationship has ended.

This research project takes as its starting point women’s own experiences of post-separation violence. By examining their lived experiences, the study explores how such violence manifests and evolves over time. Particular attention is paid to how post-separation violence is experienced in everyday life and to the consequences women perceive it to have for their health, well-being and quality of life, as well as for their opportunities for safety, recovery and an independent life.

The project also investigates women’s experiences of societal responses to post-separation abuse. This includes encounters with the criminal justice system, social services, healthcare services and other professional actors, as well as how support, protection and legal processes are perceived both to limit and, in some cases, to enable or prolong post-separation abuse. By situating women’s experiences in relation to institutional practices and decision-making processes, the study makes visible post-separation violence not only as a relational phenomenon, but also as something that may be intertwined with legislation, organisational structures, and professional assessments and interactions.

A central focus of the project is the significance of post-separation abuse for health in a broad sense. The study highlights how continued victimisation, insecurity and insufficient protection affect women’s mental and physical health, their social relationships and contexts, their economic situation, and their ability to live a safe and meaningful life. In cases where women have children, attention is also given to how women experience the impact of post-separation abuse on their children’s safety and living conditions, and how parenthood and the child’s life situation may constitute contexts in which the violence continues.

Through a qualitative phenomenological approach, the project contributes in-depth knowledge of post-separation abuse as a coherent phenomenon. The study gives voice to experiences that often fall between legal categories and organisational mandates, and provides an empirical basis for further theoretical development, policy work and practice-oriented change. The project aims to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of how the continuation of violence, health, and societal responses interact over time, thereby strengthening the conditions for appropriate and effective interventions for women and children subjected to post-separation abuse.