Intra-family violence: experiences and perceptions of adolescents

Magalhães, Júlia Renata Fernandes de; Gomes, Nadirlene Pereira; Mota, Rosana Santos; Campos, Luana Moura; Camargo, Climene Laura de; Andrade, Selma Regina de

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RESEARCH • Esc. Anna Nery 21 (1) • 2017 • https://doi.org/10.5935/1414-8145.20170003 copy

Intra-family violence: experiences and perceptions of adolescents

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

Objectives:

To unveil cases of domestic violence experienced by adolescents and to identify whether they recognize themselves in this situation.

Methods:

A qualitative study based on oral history was performed. A total of eight adolescent students from a public school were interviewed in the city of Salvador, Bahia, Northeastern Brazil. The data were organized according to thematic analysis and it was analyzed based on the following themes: domestic violence and adolescence.

Results:

The oral history of adolescents revealed a childhood and adolescence marked by the presence of domestic violence between their parents and the experience of physical abuse, humiliation, abandonment and negligence. Despite such context and health impact, adolescents did not recognize themselves as victims.

Conclusion:

Health education actions are required in schools and health services, mainly in primary health care, aiming to sensitize professionals about the recognition and prevention of violence. Management that prioritizes these elements as governmental policies is required.

Keywords:
Domestic Violence; Adolescent; Nursing; Education

Summary of adolescents’ Oral History
Crystal (girl, 15 years) Family Context: She mentioned conjugal violence between parents. The relationship with her father was permeated by lack of affection, offenses, humiliations and physical aggression. She was feeling depressed, the reason why she harmed herself. She said she still could not pay attention in class. Perception of the experience of violence: [...] what I experience is not really violence. Meaning of violence: To hit, to beat someone.
Beryl (boy, 13 years) Family context: His mother’s partner hit him and expelled him from home. Since then, the mother had rarely been in contact. He complained about lack of food and clothing, apart from physical aggression by his grandmother and aunt, with whom he lived. He revealed that he could only think about his domestic problems when he was in school and that he had failed the school year two times. Perception of the experience of violence: What I experience is not violence. Do you think it is? Meaning of violence: It is when a person kills someone, it means to punch, to kick, to burn, to drown, to shoot, to rape someone, to slit their throat.
Agatha (girl, 18 years). Family context: She mentioned conjugal violence between her parents and experience of physical and psychological violence perpetrated by parents and sister. She reported feeling sad, crying alone in her bedroom, drinking alcohol to forget her problems at home and thinking about suicide. Perception of the experience of violence: What I experience is not violence. Meaning of violence: It is when a husband kills his wife because he does not accept the separation.
Ruby (girl, 12 years). Family context: Childhood marked by conjugal violence between parents. Her father blamed her for routine domestic problems. Perception of the experience of violence: I think I have never experienced violence. Meaning of violence: I think it is to fist fight.
Onyx (boy, 13 years). Family context: He witnessed his father physically abuse his mother. He mentioned that he had suffered violence as well, including physical one, and that this had affected his school performance. Perception of the experience of violence: I have never experienced violence. Meaning of violence: I think it is to beat someone.
Topaz (boy, 14 years). Family context: He described the troubled relationship between his parents, characterized by mutual physical aggression. He reported feeling despised by his father, as he did not have a backpack or shoes to go to school, unlike his younger siblings. Perception of the experience of violence: I think this is not violence [...]. Meaning of violence: Violence is when a person beats someone.
Jade (girl, 13 years). Family context: She remembered the fights between her parents, although they had separated when she was a child. She suffered with the absence of her father, who had not seen her for six years. Perception of the experience of violence: I have never experienced this (violence) [...]. Meaning of violence: To me, violence is when you are beaten by someone every day. It is when you live with someone and they come home drunk and beat you.
Pearl (girl, 14 years). Family context: Her grandfather put her in an orphanage, but her aunt decided to raise her. She showed affection for her father, although she mentioned she was afraid of his aggressiveness. She did not show affection for her mother. She reported that she suffered when she remembered her story. Perception of the experience of violence: I have never experienced a violent act. Meaning of violence: It is to be mistreated, when a person beats someone.

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[1] Corresponding author: Júlia Renata Fernandes de Magalhães. E-mail: julinha_cte@hotmail.com