A Scoping Review on the Coping Strategies Used by Intimate Partner Violence Survivors

Xiu Hui Ong (), Poh Chua Siah, Qiu Ting Chie and Wan Ying Lee
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Xiu Hui Ong: Department of Psychology and Counselling, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar 31900, Malaysia
Poh Chua Siah: Department of Psychology and Counselling, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar 31900, Malaysia
Qiu Ting Chie: Department of Psychology and Counselling, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar 31900, Malaysia
Wan Ying Lee: Department of Psychology and Counselling, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar 31900, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 7, 1-35

Abstract: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a widespread issue with severe consequences for women’s well-being. This scoping review synthesizes research on coping strategies among female IPV survivors, evaluates measurement approaches, and assesses the applicability of the 11 families of coping framework. Analyzing 27 studies (2017–2022) from the Scopus database, we identified key coping patterns. In response to the first research question, the review revealed methodological diversity, with qualitative interviews predominating (55.56% of studies) alongside quantitative measures such as the Brief-COPE and IPV Strategies Index. All documented coping strategies were successfully categorized using Skinner’s framework, demonstrating its comprehensive utility for IPV research. This complete categorization directly answers our second research question, confirming the framework’s effectiveness for classifying IPV coping strategies. By using this framework, we identified key coping patterns, with seeking social support emerging as the most prevalent strategy (88.89% of studies), followed by escape–avoidance (55.56%) and problem-solving (44.44%). The findings underscore the value of adopting a standardized classification system to enhance consistency across studies and improve comparative analyses. The study contributes to theoretical development by validating Skinner’s model in IPV contexts and offers practical guidance for future research design. By demonstrating the universal applicability of the 11 families of coping, this scoping review provides a foundation for systematic investigations of coping mechanisms and informs targeted support interventions for survivors.

Keywords: intimate partner violence; coping strategies; Skinner’s 11 families of coping; violence against women; scoping review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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