Inhibition and incongruence

Mother Child Play in the Context of Domestic Abuse

Bibliographic Data

ID4486199
AuthorsCeri Westcott (0009-0004-7489-5297, University of East London, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume12
Issue2
Pages257-271
Publication date2023-04-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Play (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2159-4937 • E-ISSN: 2159-4953
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/21594937.2023.2209245
OpenAlexW4376866713
LanguageEN
References cited29

There is a considerable body of literature exploring both domestic abuse and play, yet only minimal research linking these factors. This study set out to investigate how experiencing domestic abuse affects play between mothers and children and what might be the implications of this for practitioners. In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted via videoconference with three cisgender white-British mothers aged 45–50 with children who had grown up in households where there was domestic abuse. Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. All the mothers valued play but in the context of domestic abuse play and playfulness were inhibited. The research suggests that it is useful for practitioners to think of domestic abuse as a cause of play deprivation and that for clients who have experienced domestic abuse there may be value in taking work into the outdoors. The research also suggested the potential for using a play history as an assessment tool. Follow-up studies to gather children’s perspectives would be useful

Child abuse · Developmental psychology · Domestic violence · Environmental health · Geography · Interpretative phenomenological analysis · Physical abuse · Poison control · Psychological abuse · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Suicide prevention · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Child Therapy and Development · Child Welfare and Adoption · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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