Research into Costs for Mothers Fleeing Violent Relationships

Dr. Elspeth McInnes 

My PhD research comparing the transition into single parenthood for mothers who gave birth alone, those who left non-violent relationships and those who left violent relationships certainly emphasised that women who did not have to deal with violence in their lives had a head start.

 The experience of violence adversely affected women's economic status by forcing them to leave their partner's financial support, abandon housing and other property and live without access to child support.

Loss of housing increased risks of homelessness and reduced both choice and security of housing.

 Violence cost women money by increasing their health problems, the time needed to get help, the cost of medicines and reduced capacity to work or study.

Violence cost women money by increasing their children's health problems, and again the time seeking medical help, the cost of medicines and the increased demands of children reducing their availability to work or study.

Violence cost women money in legal proceedings needed to seek protection for themselves and their children, along with the time and stress involved. 

The costs of violence were expressed as economic, physical, emotional and family loss, especially when compared with separating mothers whose former partners contributed to child-rearing and child support and split property resources in a safe and fair way. 

The research emphasised that violence remains a huge issue in relationship breakdown which routinely works against women and children achieving safe, secure economic and physical circumstances.

 Violence reduction remains a huge relatively unaddressed issue for single mothers and their children.

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