FROM REHABILITATION TO RECOVERY: A SELFHELP EXPERIENCE TO REGAIN QUALITY OF LIFE AFTER VIOLENCE

Abstract

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a serious public
health problem and a human rights violation that
affects the lives of many women around the world.
Victims of abuse report a multitude of adverse
outcomes, in the biological, psychological and social
domains of their life. Despite extensive research on the
effectiveness of support groups, self-help is a
methodology little explored in its potential effects in
IPV cases. This paper analyzes a self-help experience
developed within an anti-violence service of the
Municipality of Rome. A collaborative study was
carried out to assess the impacts of self-help in terms
of pmticipants' quality of life. We adopted the notion
of quality of life as formulated by Nussbaum, further
defined through her list of ten human capabilities.
Pm1icipants' narratives were analyzed through
thematic analysis. Results showed a significant impact
of the group in terms of women's quality oflife.

Affiliation was highlighted as a central capability,
through which the development of the others passes,
especially practical reason and emotions. Political
control over ones' environment was another crucial
capability, manifested in the desire to help other
survivors and to engage in activities of advocacy. The
self-help group appeared to work as a catalyst of for
the development of individual capabilities at least
minimally existing, in the presence of where external
conditions allow it. Implications in terms of directions
for the implementation of antiviolence programs and
policies are discussed.