Who defines desistance? Exploring the perspectives and experiences of female victim–survivors of intimate partner violence

A small body of research has started to explore the factors and processes that contribute to desistance from intimate partner violence (IPV). However, this evidence has been undertaken in the absence of consistent definitions of the construct that we are trying to measure and understand. We analysed the narratives of 15 female victim–survivors of IPV who reported a significant reduction or cessation of abuse for at least 6 months while still in the relationship. Our analysis revealed that complete cessation was rare; more commonly, physical abuse ceased while other forms of abuse either continued, escalated or emerged. The study also identifies the phenomena of false desistance, in which the cessation of abuse is attributed to the victim–survivor's actions rather than the offender's genuine change, and substitutive desistance, in which one form of abuse is replaced by another. The article concludes by highlighting key questions for advancing IPV desistance research.