The psychological well-being of late adolescent/young adult females affected by intimate partner violence in Mamelodi Township

Abstract

The aim of this research was to explore how late adolescent/young adult females in Mamelodi township experience the dimensions of psychological well-being following intimate partner violence. To achieve the aim and the related objectives, the eudaimonic perspective was adopted as the theoretical framework to guide the study. The method followed was a qualitative phenomenological approach. Data was gathered using semi-structured interviews, and themes were generated using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Three late adolescent/young adult females who had been affected by intimate partner violence were interviewed. These females were receiving psychotherapy at Itsoseng Psychological Clinic in Mamelodi. The study findings show that intimate partner violence experienced by late adolescent/young adult females includes emotional, physical and sexual abuse. The findings also show that intimate partner violence does have an impact on an individual�s experience of psychological well-being. In dealing with the difficulties of intimate partner violence, these late adolescent/young adult females used different coping strategies which were found to be ineffective. The psychotherapy offered at Itsoseng Psychological Clinic was found to have played an important role in the healing process of these late adolescent/young adult females. Therefore, psychotherapy is indicated for those who are experiencing and have experienced intimate partner violence.