Understanding domestic violence and abuse in the UK Muslim population

Abstract

Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) has been called the hidden pandemic, such is its global reach. It can affect anyone, from any community. Within the UK, current understanding, interventions, and support have been predominantly built upon research with the White Caucasian community. Whilst the UK stands at the forefront of legal recognition of DVA internationally, there remains a lack of understanding in relation to DVA within minority communities. This research seeks to explore how DVA manifests within UK Muslim communities, and how such understanding can inform earlier intervention points. Two qualitative studies were carried out, utilising interpretative phenomenological analysis. Study one involved semi-structured interviews with Muslim female survivors of DVA (N=10). Study two involved semi-structured interviews with healthcare and judicial professionals with extensive experience of working with Muslim communities, within a DVA context (N=9). These studies were then brought together for a multi-perspective interpretative phenomenological analysis of the two datasets. Three empirical chapters present findings in the form of detailed superordinate and subordinate themes for study one and two, with the culmination of a web model of DVA within the third empirical chapter. The findings demonstrate the diffused nature of DVA within UK Muslim communities and therefore the need to consider the wider and more holistic factors integral to DVA experiences. Four specific levels of consideration were identified as the individual psycho-social-spiritual level, the presence of additional stakeholders, the impact of intersectionality, and macro level structures which filtered down to the individual DVA experience. Through understanding the differing nature of DVA within this population group, earlier points of intervention are identified, in addition to how such knowledge can better inform service provision.