Maternal Identity Among Mothers Who Survived Near-Lethal Violence

Objective: This study explores how mothers reconstructed their identity after surviving an attempted intimate partner homicide (IPH), in cases where their children were either directly or indirectly impacted by the violence. Background: Although growing research has addressed risk factors and relationship dynamics preceding IPH, limited attention has been given to the mothering experiences of attempted-IPH survivors, many of whom are mothers. Surviving such trauma can disrupt core beliefs and alter self-perceptions, particularly within the maternal role. Method: Using interpretive phenomenological analysis, this qualitative study explored the experiences of 12 mothers who had survived an attempted intimate partner homicide. Data were collected via in-depth, semi-structured interviews and were analyzed with reference to shattered assumptions theory to interpret shifts in maternal identity. Results: Three distinct maternal identities emerged: (1) “Far more than a mother-child connection, we have friendship”: Shifting Boundaries and Hierarchies; (2) “What is my job except to keep harm away?” Negotiating Protection; and (3) “I Had to Become a Person Again Before I Could Be a Mother”: Navigating Competing Needs After Near-Lethal Violence. Conclusion: Attempted IPH reshapes maternal identity, compelling survivors to renegotiate their roles and the meaning of motherhood in the aftermath of extreme violence. Implications: Findings underscore the need for trauma-informed, family-centered interventions that support diverse maternal responses and promote healing in families affected by severe interpersonal violence.