Understanding the motivation of voluntary joining and engaging in treatment programmes for intimate partner violence: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Abstract

The present study explored the factors which influenced motivation on joining and engaging in voluntary treatment programmes for intimate partner violence (IPV). The aim was to understand the motivation of why men attend voluntary treatment programmes. The nature of most UK based IPV programmes have court-mandated attendance. The researcher wanted to understand why men would voluntarily undertake such programmes with the assumption that this attendance could then facilitate better outcomes in IPV programmes. Seven male attendees of a charity run IPV perpetrator programme were interviewed post completion of the intervention programme. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was completed with the data collected in the interviews. Four superordinate themes were found; ‘Getting Results’, ‘The Process of Change’, ‘Men as the Victim’ and ‘Can You See Me for Who I Am?’. The first superordinate theme highlights the need for the men to gain some result by attending the programme, such as having access to their children and or as a pre-emptive measure against any future court mandated need to attend IPV programmes. The second superordinate theme, ‘The Process of Change’ looks at the self-perceptions of the men prior to and during the programme. Specially, the men suggest wanting to develop themselves and become better fathers as poignant in this theme. However, a conflict in their perception of themselves as IPV perpetrators is also found within this superordinate theme. Thirdly, the theme of ‘Men as Victims’ gives an account of the male experiences of IPV being a ‘male issue’ and their interpretations of services and others stigmatising them. Lastly, the theme of ‘Can You See Me for Who I Am?’ describes acceptance and understanding from peers and facilitators as a motivator to meaningfully engage in the interventions of the programme. The findings help broaden the limited understanding of why men join and engage in IPV perpetrator programmes. Implications include adding to the already limited early intervention IPV research as well as contributing to the current knowledge of male experiences of IPV prevention intervention. The study also aims to highlight the importance of personal motivation in help seeking and readiness to change. The knowledge presented in the current study can support future IPV prevention and treatment interventions. Further recommendations of future research are also included.