Autistic Mothers and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV): An Intersectional Analysis of Vulnerability and Systemic Barriers

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how autistic mothers raising children with autism describe the support they received and the barriers they faced when leaving an IPV environment. The guiding theory for this study was Ecological Systems Theory, which was utilized to explore vulnerability to exploitation through aggressive abuse histories, normalization of violence, and the inability to see red flags in potential relationship partners. Intersectionality was utilized to examine how the interplay of abuse, autistic traits, race, socioeconomic states, and gender created a complex and challenging situation for autistic mothers affected by intimate partner violence. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted to garner a comprehensive understanding of the experiences of autistic mothers raising children with autism, the vulnerabilities they faced, and the barriers they encountered when leaving an intimate partner violence (IPV) situation. This study identified five major themes related to the lived experiences of participants: (1) understanding and overcoming abuse (2) support systems and community assistance (3) impact of leaving on children (4) decision to leave and its challenges and (5) barriers faced by children when leaving. Recommendations are to enhance prevention strategies with school-based psychoeducation programs, enhance community support services, and develop training programs that educate professionals about autism and IPV (therapists, police, and legal professionals). No other study has focused on autistic mothers raising children with autism and their experiences with IPV, at the time of this writing. This study is a foundational step in meeting the unique needs of autistic mothers, exceeding the support offered by community systems.