EXPERIENCES OF FEMALE COLLEGE STUDENT VICTIMS OF INTIMATE

PARTNER VIOLENCE IN BUKIDNON

MAIKEH CARRELL GALULA BARTON

UNDERGRADUATE THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE

DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, COLLEGE
OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, CENTRAL MINDANAO
UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY

JUNE 2018

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Republic of the Philippines

CENTRAL MINDANAO UNIVERSITY
Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon

College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Behavioral Science

APPROVAL SHEET
The undergraduate thesis attached hereto entitled, “EXPERIENCES OF FEMALE
COLLEGE STUDENT VICTIMS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE IN BUKIDNON” (Research
No.10511), prepared and submitted by MAIKEH CARRELL G. BARTON, in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the degree Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, is hereby endorsed.

LEO G. LABRADOR, Ph.D. RPsy, RPm

Chair, Thesis Advisory Committee
Date:

HANNA LEAH E. RELACION, M.A

Member, Thesis Advisory Committee
Date:

ALISA M. CABACUNGAN, M.A

Member, Thesis Advisory Committee
Date:

Recommending Approval:

RAQUELYN J. DADANG, Ph.D. Date

Department Chair

ELISA L. GUIMBAO, MALE Date

Research Coordinator

Accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Bachelor

of Arts in Psychology

Approved:

ROLITO G. EBALLE, Ph.D. Date

College Dean

Noted:

ANGELA GRACE TOLEDO-BRUNO Date

Director for Research

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AUTHORS’ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Maikeh Carrell Barton is a student of Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at

Central Mindanao University. She was born on September 2, 1996 and the
eldest child of Mr. Albert and Mrs. Richell Barton. She is presently residing at
Suna Village, Sumpong, Malaybalay City. She finished her elementary
education in the year 2009 at Malaybalay City Central School and was an
honor student. She completed her secondary education at Bukidnon National
High School in the year 2013. During her college years, she was a member of
Psychology Student Circle, Crisis Intervention Team and a secretary of
Supreme Student Council Environmental Committee.

She was an intern at LEAF Turning Wellness and Testing Center in

Davao City for clinical psychology and at Valencia Water District in Valencia
City for industrial psychology. Moreover, she also attended seminars and
trainings in line with her degree such as Psychosocial support and
Psychotrauma Management Seminar in 2018, Ethics in the work place
Seminar in 2018 and she also joined the Seminar-Workshop for faculty of
Higher Education Institutions Teaching Core and Mandated Courses of the
General Education Curriculum (GE) specifically on Understanding the self in
2018. In addition, she was also one of the participants in the 10th VISMIN
Psychology Convention.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

To the Almighty God, thank you for giving the strength, for the good
health and well being to finish this study.

To her family: Mama 8chong, Dada Albert, Maccu, Mainne, Tito

Randy, Yvonne, Tito Renly, Tita Eljie, Tita Narz, Uncle Berlindo Sr., Aunt
Vilma, Aunt Verna, thank you for the love, patience, faith and undying
support in order to finish this study.

To her friends, Johannah, Florence Dale to all of her classmates who

help and encourage her and especially to Glory Grace for sharing her
expertise and assistance for making this study possible. Your friendship
nourishes her soul and she is so grateful to have you in her life.

To her partner, Ronnie, thank you for the support, the hours of patient
listening, and the quiet words of encouragement you have offered throughout
this process.

Sincerest thanks to her adviser, Dr. Leo G. Labrador, for his patience,
motivation and immense knowledge, for the long time and tremendous effort
to offer every possible help to finish this study. It was a great honor to finish
this study under his supervision. She would also like to thank the rest of the
members of the thesis committee, Prof. Alisa M. Cabacungan and Prof.
Hanna Leah E. Relacion for the insights, comments and suggestions which
contributed in the improvement of this study.

And lastly, to all the Respondents for all their full cooperation that
made them a big part of this study.

MAIKEH CARRELL G. BARTON

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ABSTRACT

EXPERIENCES OF FEMALE COLLEGE STUDENT VICTIMS OF

INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE IN BUKIDNON by Maikeh Carrell G.
Barton, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Central Mindanao University, Musuan,
Bukidnon, June, 2018.

Thesis Adviser: Dr. Leo G. Labrador, RPsy, RPm

This study was conducted to explore the experiences of female college

student victims of intimate partner violence in Bukidnon. Phenomenological
approach was adopted in the study. Purposive sampling was used in
determining the respondents which consist of five female college student
victims of intimate partner violence. The data of the study were analyzed
using thematic analyses.

The study generated four major themes from the experiences of female
college student victims of intimate partner violence which comprised of,
violence, psychological effects of the abuse, trauma bonding and affect
regulation. The following sub-themes emerged from the major themes
namely: physical violence, verbal violence, shame and embarrassment, self
blame, anger, academic issue, extreme jealousy and possessiveness, fear
and anxiety, depression, length of dating relationship and seeking social
support.

Keywords: Intimate partner violence, psychological effects of the abuse

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE i
APPROVAL SHEET ii
AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH iii
ACKKNOWLEDGEMENT iv
ABSTRACT v
TABLE OF CONTENTS viI
LIST OF TABLES viii
LIST OF APPENDICES ix

CHAPTER
1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1. Background of the Study 1
1.2. Theoretical Framework 3
1.3. Statement of the Problem 4
1.4. Objectives of the Study 5
1.5. Scope and Limitation of the Study 5
1.6. Significance of the Study 5
1.7. Operational Definition 6

2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 8

2.1. Intimate Partner Violence among College Students 8

3 METHODOLOGY 11
3.1. Research Design 11
3.2. Locale of the Study 11
3.3. Respondents of the Study 11
3.4. Research Instrument 12

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3.5. Procedure 12
3.6. Data Analysis 13

4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 14

4.1. Individual Profile of female college student 14
victims of intimate partner violence
4.2. Experiences of female college students 20
of intimate partner violence
4.1.1. Violence 21
4.1.2. Psychological effects of the Abuse 24
4.1.3. Trauma Bonding 31
4.1.4. Affect Regulation 33
4.3. The Cycle of Violence 34
4.4. Perspectives of female college student victims 35
of intimate partner violence

5 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION 39

5.1. Summary 39
5.2. Conclusion 41
5.3. Recommendation 42

REFERENCES 44

APPENDICES 47
7.1. Sample of Communication letter 48
7.2. Sample of Informed Consent 49
7.3. Sample of In-depth Interview Questions 50

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LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

1 Major themes and sub-themes generated 21

from the experiences of female college
student victims of intimate partner violence

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LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix Page

A Sample of Communication letter 48

B Sample of Informed Consent 49
C Sample of In-depth interview questions 50

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Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

As early as the 1980’s, researcher have indicated that college students

have a higher prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and are more
likely to exhibit violent behaviors compared to married couples (Stets &
Straus, 1992). Although violence occurs among all age groups, college
students are at particularly higher risk for being victimized by an intimate
partner (Forke et al. 2008).
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) against women is considered as a
common health-care issue. Violence against women, whether physical,
sexual, and or emotional, is an endemic phenomenon and is generally
perpetrated by partners or acquaintances rather than strangers (Carlson,
2005). Intimate Partner Violence has both long-term and immediate negative
health consequences for abused women and can manifest as poor health
status, poor quality of life, and high use of health services, even after they
have left their abusive partners (Campbell, 2002; Campbell et al., 2002).
Women who experience intimate partner violence tend to ignore what’s going
on, and this might be because they are afraid of being stigmatized in their
society. They tend to submerge in their own thoughts of failures and show
feelings of guilt and shame. They also fear to take action and visit services
which might help them, so they usually suffer silently (Crawford, Kalifani &
Hill, 2009).
Intimate partner violence is prevalent in contemporary society and
certain groups of individuals such as college students who are particularly at
high risk of becoming involved in aggressive relationships. A Recent research
suggests that violence is more common during the dating stage, which is a
common relationship status among college students, compared to marital
unions (Straus 2004). Additionally, college students generally live in
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environments in which personal information (e.g., class schedules, phone

numbers, and email addresses) are easily obtained, making them susceptible
targets of interpersonal victimization (Finn 2004; Lee 1998). As such, college
students are an important group to study with regards to the correlates and
consequences of partner violence.
In the Philippines, the Philippine National Police documented a total of
1,100 to 7,383 cases of violence against women from 1996 to 2004. It also
reached its peak during 2001 at 10,343 cases and further increases and
reached 23,865 cases in 2013. These cases involved physical, sexual,
emotional and economic violence.
Many people believe that dating during the young adult years provides
a training ground for behavior in subsequent long-term relationships, because
violent behavior that begins in the dating context often continues into the
marital relationship (O’Leary et al., 1989), it is critical to intervene while
couples are dating to stop the cycle of violence.
The legislative conscripted the Rule on Violence Against Women which
spells out the Court’s procedures and guidelines in handling VAWC cases.
This rule was launched last October 2004 together with the Implementing
Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA 9262. RA 9262 penalizes the commission
of violence against women and their children (VAWC). It defines VAWC as
any act or series of acts committed by any person against a woman who is his
wife or former wife, or with whom the person has or had a sexual dating
relationship, or with whom he has had a common child. Additionally, it
provides for penalties for violence committed against his child whether
legitimate or illegitimate, within or without the family abode, which results in
(or is likely to result in) physical or psychological harm or suffering. Also,
economic abuses including threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion,
harassment or arbitrary deprivation of liberty are penalized. Among others, it
provides for the security of the complainant and her family through the
protection orders from the barangay and court. Furthermore, it recognizes
“battered woman syndrome” (BWS) which refers to a scientifically defined
pattern of psychological or behavioral symptoms found in women living in
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abusive relationships as a result of cumulative abuse, as an acceptable

defense for actions committed by a victim as a result of battering.
Some of the more significant laws passed were RA 8353 (or the Anti-
Rape Law) and RA 8505 of the Rape-Victim Assistance and Protection Act;
the Anti Sexual Harassment Law (or RA 7877). The Department of Justice
Memorandum No. 9 series of 1998 on the Guidelines on the Handling of Rape
Cases Involving Adult Victims was also adopted. Relevant features of the
policy include ensuring the fair and respectful treatment of the adult rape
victim, assignment of a woman investigator during preliminary inquest,
prevention of admission of evidence of the victim’s past sexual conduct or
reputation unless such evidence is material and relevant to the case, and
banning of the public during the conduct of the preliminary investigation. This
is pursuant to RA 8505 or the Rape-Victim Assistance and Protection Act.
However, despite of the prevention efforts, discrimination against
women in the form of violence remains very pervasive in the country.
Underreporting of cases still exists since some women do not speak about the
violence experienced due to several factors such as shame and self-blame for
the violence, fear of the abuser’s retaliation, limited resources to pursue
justice, inaccessible or unavailable facilities where one can report the violence
to the rightful authority. In cases of intimate partner violence, many women
also experience being “filtered out” of the legal justice system when they are
pressured by village mediators to reconcile with their abusive partners
(Women’s Legal Bureau, “Engendering the Barangay Justice System”, 2004).
This study attempted to explore the experiences, determine the support
systems and describe the perspectives of female college student victims of
Intimate Partner Violence in Bukidnon.

Theoretical framework

This study was based on a phenomenological approach in dealing with

the experiences of female college student victims of intimate partner violence
in Bukidnon.
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The main purpose of phenomenological approach is to essentially

describe rather than explain the series of events and to start from a
perspective that is free from hypotheses or preconceptions (Husserl 1970).
According to Christensen, Johnson, and Turner (2010), the primary
objective of a phenomenological study is to explicate the meaning, structure
and essence of the lived experiences of a person, or a group of people,
around a specific phenomenon.
Moustakas (1994) posited that research should focus on the wholeness
of experience and a search for essences of experiences. Moustakas viewed
experience and behaviour as an integrated and inseparable relationship of a
phenomenon with the person experiencing the phenomenon.
Pereira (2012) investigated thoroughness in phenomenological
research and concluded that to be judged valid, a phenomenological study
must take into consideration methodological congruence (rigorous and
appropriate procedures) and experiential concerns that provide insight in
terms of plausibility and illumination about specific phenomenon.
Phenomenological methods to explore Intimate Partner violence have
been used by several researchers to explore a variety of experiences of
Intimate Partner violence and abuse (Denzin, 1984; Eisikovitis and
Buchbinder, 1999; Garko, 1999; Reitz, 1999; Shamai, 2000; Wesley et al,
2000; Taylor et al, 2001).

Statement of the Problem

This study explored the experiences, support systems and perspective

of female college student victims of Intimate Partner Violence. Specifically, it
attempted to answer the following:
1. What are the experiences and support systems used by the female
college student victims of Intimate Partner Violence in Bukidnon to
cope with the abuse?
2. What is the perspective of female college student victims of Intimate
Partner Violence?
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Objectives of the study

This study aimed to describe and explore the experiences of female

college student victims of Intimate Partner Violence. Specifically, the study
aimed to:
1. Explore experiences and determine the support systems of the
female college student victims of Intimate Partner Violence.
2. Describe and explore the perspective of female college student
victims of Intimate Partner Violence.

Scope and Limitation of the study

The study was conducted at selected schools and university in

Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. The study is limited only to 5 respondents who
are victims of Intimate Partner Violence.
Findings of the study were only limited to the experiences of female
college student victims of Intimate Partner Violence only within the
mentioned locale. Furthermore, its findings will not provide an overall
picture of Intimate Partner Violence as worldwide phenomena.

Significance of the study

This study described the personality, coping styles and experiences of

college student victims of Intimate Partner Violence. Hence, this study is
significant to the following:

To the mental health profession. The study gave information about

the experiences, personality and coping strategies of college student victims
of Intimate Partner Violence that could be a basis for the creation of
intervention and prevention about this type of violence.
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To the DSWD. The study shall provide information on the experiences

of victims of Intimate Partner Violence which in turn may enhance programs
and services to address this pressing issue.
To the female college student victims of Intimate Partner Violence.
The study provided the college student victims of intimate partner violence in
Bukidnon, awareness of the effects of intimate partner violence to their
physical and mental health. It also provided information regarding its
prevention and intervention that these female college students may apply.
To the community. The study could serve as a source of information
about the personality and coping styles of college student victims of Intimate
Partner Violence. This study will give them awareness on the experiences
which will bring insight and encourage them to report said cases.

Operational Definition of Terms

The study employed the following key terms below to show specific
meanings:
Female college student victim refers to a female who have been
admitted to a college or university and is a victim of Intimate Partner Violence.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is defined as psychological, physical or
sexual abuse that occurs between two people in a close relationship. It can
happen within marriage, long-term partnerships or short-term intimate
relationships and can be perpetrated by ex-partners when relationships have
ended.
Physical Abuse refers to any intentional act causing injury or trauma to
another person by way of bodily contact.
Psychological Abuse which is also referred to as psychological violence,
emotional abuse or mental abuse, is a form of abuse characterized by a
person subjecting or exposing another person to behavior that may result
psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression or post-traumatic
stress disorder.
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Sexual Abuse also referred to as molestation, is an undesired sexual

behavior by one person upon another.
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Chapter 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter presented the literature review of the study. It includes the
studies and researches related to the experiences of the female college
student victims of Intimate Partner Violence.

Intimate Partner Violence among College Students

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a term that describes physical,
sexual, or psychological harm inflicted by a current or former partner or
spouse. The violence often starts with emotional or psychological abuse and
may then progress to more physical forms of violence (Saltzman et al. 2002).
Intimate Partner Violence in relationships also refers to abuse between
couples who are not married or cohabiting, regardless of their age.
Furthermore, the phenomenon of male-perpetrated intimate partner
violence (hereafter referred to as IPV) has generated interest among
practitioners, researchers and policy makers since early days of the battered
women’s movement in the early 1970’s (Binder & Meeker, 19922; Dobash &
Dobash, 1979; Stark, 2007; Walker, 1979).
Additionally, IPV in this current era's population is widely spreading.
Most undergraduate and graduate students are in the age groups that are
highest risk for IPV. Furthermore, dating violence is a common problem on
college campuses (Wasserman, 2004).
Researchers and practitioners are alarmed by the high proportion of
college students who consider some degree of physical violence in dating
relationships acceptable or normal in some circumstances. Dating violence
encompasses physical violence, sexual violence, and stalking, which are
often combined. Definitions of IPV include psychological abuse, which is more
insidious and can be even more detrimental than physical abuse (World
Health Organization [WHO], 2005).
Despite prevention efforts and a robust line of research on its
antecedents, correlates, and consequences (Baldry, 2003; Garcia-Moreno,
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Jansen, Heise, & Watts, 2006; World Health Organization, 2005), violence
and abuse perpetrated by intimate partners is now widely recognized as one
of the most common forms of violence against women and is becoming
increasingly recognized as an important public health issue worldwide
(Dutton, 1992).
Research has found that there is a higher risk of abuse with the
increase of relationship duration and even though violence occurs most
individuals will not end the relationship. This may explain the connection
between dating violence and marital violence which finds that couples who
reported aggressive behavior before marriage, continued to be violent during
their marital relationship. Since violence often begins in the dating context and
continues into the marital relationship, it is critical to intervene at this initial
stage to stop the cycle of violence (O’Leary et al., 1989).
In addition, Salamone (2010) suggested that the reasons why women
return to abusive relationships are extremely complex and have less to do
with the content of the woman’s character and more to do with the effects of
abuse. An abused woman may leave her abuser seven to eight times before
she leaves permanently.
According to Loue (2001), the act of blaming the self is most often
accompanied by the tendency to excuse or normalise the partner's violence
with the reasoning that their partner really loves them. Turner et al. (2000)
referred to rationalisation as a way of coping and as a survival strategy in the
abusive relationship.
In a study of Layda (2001) revealed that violence is a continuum that
supposedly normal men do on supposedly normal relationships. Jealousy and
possessiveness of boyfriends who control and restrict their girlfriends are
examples in which fights sprang and battering incidents mostly erupt in the
context of fights. Once it has starts to happen it always gets worse.
Moreover, a phenomenological study describes individuals` meaning of
their lived experiences of a phenomenon. In other words, the research
respondent’s version of experience of intimate partner violence initiated during
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college years becomes the phenomenon that the researcher explores (Willig,
2001).
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Chapter 3

METHODOLOGY

This section presented the research design, locale of the study, the
respondents of the study, the instruments to be used, procedures as well as
the data analysis.

Research Design

A phenomenological approach was used in the study to explore,

describe, determine, gather and analyze information about the experiences of
female college student victims of Intimate Partner Violence.
Phenomenological approach aimed to develop a complete, accurate, clear
and articulate description and understanding of a particular human experience
or experiential moment.

Locale of the study

This study was conducted at the different schools and university in

Bukidnon namely: Bukidnon State University, San Isidro College, Central
Mindanao University and Irene B. Antonio College of Mindanao. The
researcher chose the municipality because based on the initial interview with
the personnel in student services from the different schools and university,
they have received reported cases related to Intimate Partner Violence.

Respondents of the study

The respondents of the study were chosen using purposive sampling.

In this method, the respondents were selected in accordance to the purpose
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of the study. It comprised 5 respondents who meet the following inclusion

criteria:
1. Female college student in any colleges or university in Bukidnon
2. Identified and endorsed by the Guidance Counselor

Research Instrument

The researcher employed a research interview questionnaire. The

nature of the research questions was addressed by eliciting the stories of the
respondents. The researcher also used follow up questions to obtain salient
information.

Procedure

The researcher made communication letters and personally gave to the

Director of the Office of Student Affairs of Bukidnon State University, San
Isidro College, Central Mindanao University and Irene B. Antonio College of
Mindanao. Once approved, the researcher asked permission regarding
victims of Intimate Partner Violence cases handled by the Guidance
Counselors of the mentioned schools and university. When approved by the
Guidance Counselors, the researcher made informed consents addressed
and personally gave to the respondents. When approved by the respondents,
the researcher scheduled time, date and place for the in depth interview. After
in depth interview, due to the sensitivity of the topic, the information about
informed consent, confidentiality potential risks and benefits were also
discussed. The data gathered was then transcribed and analyzed by the
researcher.
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Data Analysis

The study utilized narrative and thematic analysis in giving meaning to

the data that were gathered by the researcher. Narrative analysis was used to
emphasize different aspects of the experiences of the respondents. Thematic
analysis was used to analyze and to identify the themes and responses to
fully describe their experiences.
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Chapter 4

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

This chapter presents the results based on the specific questions

raised in the study. The first part describes the individual profile of female
college student victims of intimate partner violence. The second part
describes the themes that emerged from the experiences of female college
student victims of intimate partner violence. Each of the major themes and
sub-themes include the narrative of the respondents. The third part describes
the cycle of violence and lastly, the perspectives of the female college student
victims of intimate partner violence. Since the language used in the in-depth
interview is the dialect coming from them, the transcription includes their
dialect encoded in italics and taking place after it is the English translation.
The translation, however, cannot be a literal translation of the dialect but is
only a hermeneutical sense of the original thought. Pseudonyms were used to
protect the identity of the respondents.

Individual Profile of female college student victims of Intimate Partner

Violence

The case of Regine

The case of Regine, a 21-year-old and a graduate of BS Accountancy
at San Isidro College and residing at Malaybalay City, existed up being in a
relationship with her partner for three years. Her partner was also a 21-year-
old and is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Accounting Technology at San
Isidro College who happens to be also residing at Malaybalay City. Her
partner was her schoolmate since highschool and she added that she already
noticed that her partner was one of the lazy students in their school. Prior to
their relationship, she was a former secretary of their school organization and
one of her responsibilities was to disseminate information to the students
through messages. Until her partner started sending group messages and
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personal messages to her about his hurtful experiences of his former

girlfriend. With respect and response to what her partner shared, Regine
comforted her partner and started giving advices which also started their
friendship.
After five months of texting and meeting at school, it was February
2015, when Regine’s partner confessed his feelings and courted her. After a
month, Regine accepted her partner’s confession and they were officially in a
relationship. Regine shared that during their first month was full of happiness
and sweetness. Until Regine’s partner started sharing about his former
girlfriend who made Regine uncomfortable and jealous of her partner’s former
girlfriend. Regine also heard stories from her partner’s friends that her partner
was always sharing his experiences with his former girlfriend. Another issue of
Regine with her partner was that she noticed that her partner was closer to
other girls compared to her. According to Regine, she also noticed her partner
was frequently flirting with other girls. She tried to confront her partner
regarding the issue but according to her, it would then piss him and he'd begin
cursing her and will keep on telling her that she has no trust in him. According
to Regine, there was also a time when her friends saw her partner still
hanging out with his former girlfriend. Regine also tried to confront her partner
but instead of sharing her concerns about how she felt regarding to what she
heard from her friends, her partner became pissed and said that there’s no
need for Regine to worry about and that his former girlfriend just wanted a
closure. Everytime Regine would mention this issue; her partner’s mood
would change into a bad one and would lead to hurt Regine physically and
emotionally.
The cause of their conflict started with the issue about the former
girlfriend of Regine’s partner and her partner’s behaviour of flirting with other
girls. Regine shared her feelings regarding this issue that it made her insecure
and possessive when it comes to her partner and she would found it alarming
when her partner would talk to other girls. She also shared that it would hurt
her feelings and was bothered about the issues of her partner. Regine was
also bothered everytime she and her partner have conflicts because it would
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always be her who would try to resolve the issue. Because of this, she shared
that this affected her studies in which every time they have quizzes or exams,
she cannot concentrate for being worried about her partner.

The case of Marriane

The case of Marriane, a 20-year-old and a third year college student of
Central Mindanao University taking up Bachelor of Science in Accountancy
and residing at Maramag, Bukidnon existed upon being in a relationship with
her partner for four years. Her partner is also a 20 year old and a third year
student of Central Mindanao University taking up Bachelor of Science in
Education major in English and residing at Valencia City. Being in a similar
situation with Regine, Marriane and her partner were schoolmates in
highschool up to present.
Prior to their relationship, it was in highschool when Marriane had a
crush on her partner’s bestfriend. Marriane’s classmate asked the phone
number of her crush and gave three numbers which made Marriane confused
in figuring out which number was belonged to her crush. But the number she
tried to text was not her crush’s number. Instead, it was her current partner’s
number. Then, Marriane and her current partner started texting and chatting
until feelings were developed between the two and her partner courted her.
After three months of texting and chatting, they were finally in a relationship.
Marriane described her partner as an understanding and that he
always used to asked for apology every time they have conflicts. But after
their second year of being together, her partner started showing irritable
behaviours. Even petty reasons would make her partner irritable and he would
then be led to cursing Marriane. Her partner started cursing her through text
messages. She shared that there was a time when she was with her partner
buying something in Valencia City, her partner wanted to go home already
because he was already tired and pissed but Marriane was not yet done
buying what she needed so she told her partner to go home and no longer
wait for her. Such incident made her partner angry because his partner
wanted to go home with her. Because of that, Marriane’s partner started
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cursing her and left her. As Marriane’s response to her partner’s behavior, she
also cursed her partner as a response. According to her, she had
subconciously adopted her partner’s cursing behavior.
There was also a time when she was with her partner buying
something at Valencia City, in which similar behavior was showed by her
partner. He was irritated and that wanted to go home already but Marriane
was not yet done buying. Marriane’s partner got angry and poured a juice at
her in the public. Marriane was speechless and was shocked because of what
her partner did to her. Because of what Marriane’s partner did to her, it
triggered her to also inflict pain to her boyfriend every time she got pissed.
Marriane also revealed that the reason that her partner would hurt her
physically and emotionally is that, everytime they have conflicts, she would
always insult her partner. There was also a time when in order to vent out her
frustrations or whenever she was angry, she hurts her partner physically
which led to trigger her partner to also hurt her physically.

The case of Gab

The case of Gab, a 20-year-old and a graduate of Bachelor of Science
in Education major in Physical Education at Bukidnon State University and
residing at Lantapan, Bukidnon, proliferated upon being in a relationship with
her partner for three months. Her partner was 8 years older than her and an
English teacher at Talakag and is residing at Maramag, Bukidnon.
Gab shared that she met her partner at the wedding of their common
friend who was also a teacher and it happened that her sorority sister was a
sister of her partner. Gab was introduced by her sorority sister to her partner
and then they started talking. At the end of the wedding, her partner asked for
her phone number. Then they started texting and chatting, and after six
months, her partner courted her and they became in a relationship. Since her
partner worked far from Gab’s home, they were in a long distance
relationship. According to Gab, during their first month together, her partner
was endearing, sweet and would always contact her but after a month, her
partner started to show less care and would seldom contact her.
 18

According to Gab, it was very hard for her because she always tried
her best to keep in touch with her partner but her partner would always avoid
her. She also revealed that she would always adjust and understand her
partner but she has not received anything in return. Gab also experienced
running errands for her partner most of the time in which, according to her,
she felt like she was a subordinate.
Gab also shared that she was always worried about her partner and
that she hardly knew what to do. Every time she contacted her partner, she
tried to confront him about what the problem is and why was it that her partner
treated her silently. Gab also revealed that she had an instinct that her partner
is having an affair which also fueled her to be more worried and bothered.
She also shared that every time she would think about it, it would made her
cry, making it difficult for her to sleep. She also considered her situation as a
burden every time she wakes up and that her situation is the first thing she
used to think about

The case of Laura

The case of Laura, a 21-year-old and a graduating student taking up
Bachelor of Science in Education major in Filipino at Central Mindanao
University and residing at Lantapan, Bukidnon, occured her relationship with
her partner for three years. Her partner is a 22-year-old and is also a
graduating student taking up Bachelor of Science in Agriculture major in
Agronomy and residing at Lantapan, Bukidnon.
Similar situation with Regine and Marriane, Laura and her partner were
schoolmates since highschool up until present. Laura was already noticed by
her partner when they were still in highschool. Some time in college, her
partner started contacting her through facebook and they then started
exchanging numbers. Until, feelings were developed and after two months of
texting, chatting and hanging out together, they were already in a relationship.
Similar situations with the previous respondents, after a year, Laura’s partner
started cursing her every time she did not reply immediately to her partner.
 19

Laura revealed that her partner was extremely jealous and possessive
even the thought of her smiling to her male friends or classmates would make
her partner mad. There was also a time that she attempted to break up with
her partner because she was tired of her partner’s extreme jealousy and
possessiveness, but her partner got angry and threw his phone in front of
Laura which gravely scared her at that time. Another issue encountered by
Laura about her partner was that every time she was caught by her boyfriend
talking or even smiling to her male friends or classmates, her partner would
cursed at her and would label her as a flirt.
Laura revealed that she felt scared and hurt of her situation with her
partner. She was also worried every time they had a conflict. Similar with the
experience of the previous respondents, Laura also had a difficulty in sleeping
and her studies also got affected. She then got excluded in the college
scholar because such mode of disctraction. Her study habits got affected for
she can no longer concentrate and as she kept on thinking able what to do to
be able to settle her problem with her partner.

The case of Fatima

The case of Fatima, a 21 year old and an incoming fourth year student
of IBA College taking up Bachelor of Science in Criminology and residing at
Valencia City existed upon being in a relationship with her partner for four
years. Her partner is a 22 year old and a graduate of the same course and
school and also residing at Valencia City.
Fatima and her partner met at a bar in Malaybalay City through their
common friend who invited them to hangout. Their common friend was a
highschool classmate of her partner and a cousin of her classmate. Their
common friend introduced them to each other and they started talking until
they exchanged numbers. Then they started texting until their feelings were
developed and after a month of texting and getting to know each other, they
were officially in a relationship.
Fatima described her partner as sweet, caring, loving and she
considered him as her ideal partner. But after two years of being together, she
 20

noticed that her partner started showing unpleasant behaviours every time
they have conflicts. She also shared that every time they have conflicts, she
always insulted her partner which would trigger him to curse and to hurt her
physically.
The imminent reason of their conflicts started when the friends of
Fatima’s partner reported that they saw Fatima hanging out and flirting with
other men which made her partner mad and this rooted to his trust issues with
her. Fatima was accused of having a third party in which according to her,
was not true.
Fatima felt hurt because her partner believed what his friends told him
without confirming it to her. Fatima revealed that every time her partner gets
jealous, he would hurt her physically. Fatima wanted to leave her partner
because she wanted to get out of such kind of relationship but every time she
attempts to break up with him, her partner would attempt to kill himself.

Experiences of female college student victims of intimate partner

violence

The analysis of the respondents’ experiences generated the following

major themes and sub-themes. Table 1 presents the outline of themes as
identified from the respondents’ answers. There were five major themes which
consisted of Violence, Attribution, Psychological Distress, Trauma Bonding
and Affect Regulation. Each major theme has its corresponding sub-themes
which were further discussed on the proceeding pages. These themes
provide an overall picture of the experiences of female college student victims
of Intimate Partner Violence.
 21

Table 1
Major Themes and Sub-Themes Generated from the experiences of Female
College Students of Intimate Partner Violence in Bukidnon
Major themes Sub themes

1. Violence Physical violence

Verbal violence

2. Psychological effects of the abuse Shame

and embarrassment
Self blame
Anger
Academic issue
Fear and anxiety
Depression

3. Trauma bonding Length of

Dating relationship

4. Affect regulation Seeking social support

Violence
Violence against women is present in most societies but it often goes
unrecognized and unreported, and is accepted as part of the nature of things.
Most violence against women takes place within families and the perpetrators
are almost exclusively men, usually partners, ex-partners or other men known
to the woman. Although reliable data on the prevalence of violence against
women by their partners are scarce, especially in developing countries, a
growing body of research confirms its pervasiveness (Megarbio and Cabarde
Jr., 2007).
 22

Physical Violence
One of the most common forms of violence experienced by the
respondents is physical violence by their intimate partners. Physical violence
is what everyone sees. When a woman experiences physical abuse in a
relationship, society sees the bruises, cuts or broken bones. Regine stated
her experience by saying, “Nabira ko once sa atong intrams kay sa intrams
diba naa may murag free food daw, lunch sa school, ana dayon natingala ko
nikalit lang siya’g lakaw. Nasakitan ko kay gi’ignan naman nako siya daan na
naa ko’y pamaol sakit kaayo akong kamot dayon iya pang gi’bira, ana.” (He
pulled me once during our intramurals held at school. I was just asking him to
have lunch with me since there was free food but then he walked out without
saying anything. I felt hurt because in the first place, he knew that my arm
was injured but still, he pulled it.)
Similar aspect and experience of physical violence was also shared by
Marriane wherein she said, “Mura bitaw ko’g bata, ginakusi pa ko niya, sige
bya ko niya’g kabun-ugan kay dako man gud siya nga tao, ginakusi ko niya
diri, gakabun-ugan ko diri.” Bun-og bun-og ra man nga gagmay pero bun-og
bya gihapon siya sakit bya gyud gihapon.” (He used to pinch me and because
he’s bigger than me, it’s easy for him to inflict pain. They're just bruises but
they still hurt.)
This is also experienced by Fatima in which she disclosed “Iya man
kaha dayon kong gilaparo. Unya, sakit bya gyud na imagine kamot sa lalaki
unya niwang man gihapon to siya pero i-compare nimo ang kusog sa laki ug
bae, lahi bya gyud, mas kusgan bya gyud ang laki. Grabe gyud akong hilak
ato kay nabigla ko ba nga gilaparo gyud ko niya bitaw unya mao pa gyud to
iyang first gyud nga pag dapat sa akoa. Mao to, nashock ko nga, nasakitan
nga basta, mixed emotion na gyud to bitaw.” (He slapped me. I cried so hard,
feeling so shocked that he did that to me and that was the first time he
inflicted pain. I was shocked, hurt, it was mixed emotion.)
These are the surface signs of abuse and only one part of what makes
up intimate partner violence. It may include slapping, pushing, kicking,
 23

punching, burning, choking, throwing objects at a person to make them do

something or any physical action that causes hurt (Chelliah and John, 2003).
In addition, high levels of conflict in relationships are strongly
associated with physical violence. Violence is often deployed as a tactic in
relationship conflict as well as being an expression of frustration or anger
(Jewkes, 2002).

Verbal Violence
Violence can take many forms and may not always be physical. The
outburst may involve extreme physical harm to the victim, or emotional
scarring which is not observable to the casual observer but can have long
lasting effects on the personality of the victim. The benefit to the abuser is
release of tension and the compliance of the victim but there are costs as
well.
This is true with the experiences of violence experienced by Marriane
in which she shared, “Kanang mamalit, then lahi bya ta nga mga babae kay
kung mamalit ta kay tuyok-tuyok gyud. Then siya kay kanang igangon na
unya saputon na unya “Yawa man ka uy! Ngano man ka nga dugay man
kaayo ka! Yawa ka! Daghan man kaayo mga sanina diha! Piste man kang
bayhana ka! Animal man ka! Wa kay pulos! Ana-on bitaw ko, in public.” (Girls
are different when it comes to buying things because we used to stroll around
but he then starts to feel annoyed and then he would begin saying bad words,
he would say that I am worthless.)
This was also similar to the verbal violence experienced by Gab in
which she stated,”Gusto pa nako i-save among relasyon so naningkamot ko
pero naa nama’y mga linya nga di maayo sama sa "Desperada!", "O.A!"
ni’abot pa gyud sa linya nga "YAWA KA!" ayon kaya tinigilan ko na siya pero
emotionally, grabe gyud nakong suffer. Every night maghilak ko, ug di ko
kabalo sa buhaton.” (I wanted to save our relationship so I tried but then he
started saying unpleasant lines like, "Desperate!" "O.A!" and to the point of
saying bad words to me. So, I stopped but I really suffered emotionally. I
would cry every night and I did not know what to do.)
 24

Fatima also stated her experience by saying, “Kulbaan kayo ko ato kay
gi’ignan naman ko niya nga, puslan man nga bulagan ko nimo, maypa’g
mawala nalang sad ko aning kalibutana! Basta kay nahadlok naman gyud ko,
grabe gyud akong kakulba ato ba kay basin ug iya palang gyung buhaton
gyud bitaw nga tapuson gyud niya iyang kinabuhi ato, puliki na sad ko ug
lingaw niya ato, grabe akong storya niya gyud para lang buy-an to niya ang
kutsilyo." (I felt nervous that time because he said that his life would be
useless if I broke up with him. I was so scared because he was attempting to
end his life. What I did was, I talked to him until he dropped the knife.)
The scars of verbal abuse are very real, and they run deep. In fact,
verbal violence can be just as damaging a physical violence---sometimes
even more so. Furthermore, verbal violence usually worsens over time, often
escalating to physical battery. It is used by the perpetrator to instill fear and
break down a victim’s self-esteem and self-efficacy (O’Leary, 1999).

Psychological effects of the Abuse

According to Felix and Paz-Ingente in their study on Protecting Women
and children (2003), psychological effects of violence may involve low self-
esteem, shame, guilt, depression, fear, anger and increase risk of suicide
attempts. It is not just a perpetrator’s words or acts, but also the intentions,
perceptions, and feelings that are communicated by the abuser and
experienced by the person being victimized that carry such long-term effects.

Shame and embarrassment

Majority of the respondents in the study reported that their experiences
were embarrassing and that is why they are ashamed to disclose their
situation. Regine shared her experience, “Kanang nasakitan ko dayon
naulawan pud ko ato kay. Ulaw, ay ulaw siya sa ako kay kanang, in-ana lagi,
murag naembarrass ko, murag sobra na kaayo ba.” (I felt hurt and
embarrassed because of what happened.)
Similar narratives were also experienced by Gab and Laura. Laura
stated “Pero dili man gyud ingon nga mashare gyud nako tanan sa ilaha ang
 25

mga panghitabo. Naa man gyu’y mga kailangan nga i-private lang pud.” (I’m
not sharing every single detail to them. There are details that needs to remain
private.) A study focusing on the lived experiences of female victims of IPV
showed that battered women “are often ashamed to disclose their situation”
and are “afraid of being ridiculed or ignored” (Loke et al., 2012, p. 2336).
Furthermore, shame felt by victim/survivors of traumatic events is a
concept that goes beyond merely feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed
about something. In contrast to these relatively mild sensations, the post-
trauma of shame is described as something that can affect the victim’s core
perception of their self and identity. Following a traumatic event, shame can
incorporate a sense of disgust, humiliation and negative comparisons of the
self with others. Shame can cause a person to feel alienated, worthless, and
stigmatised (Rahm et al., 2006).

Self blame
The respondents of the study also experienced blaming oneself for
being the cause of their partner's violence. It is defined as assuming personal
responsibility for the occurrence of a traumatic event, often when it is clear
from an outside viewpoint that the person who engages in self-blame is
actually the victim.
This is apparent to the experience of Marriane who revealed, “Ako,
mudawat man ko nga maldita gyud kay ko nga pagkatao.” (I admit that I am a
person with bad attitude.) With Marriane’s statement, she blamed herself for
having a bad attitude which triggered her boyfriend to do violent behaviors.
Gab also reported, “kana gyung yawyawan, babae bya, yawyawan
gyud sige ra’g yaw-yaw ang babae.” (I used to nag him. It is in girls' nature to
nag.) In the case of Gab, she also blamed herself for being a nagger which
triggered her partner in perpetrating violence.
Laura also shared her experience, “Nisugot ra sad ko kay makaingon
sad ko nga naa pud ko’y sala gyud nganong naignan ko niya ug mga in-ato.”
(I agreed because I cannot put all the blame on him. I also caused it that’s
why he said those words to me.) Laura also blamed herself as a victim of
 26

intimate partner violence because she admitted that she also caused the fight
that leaded her boyfriend in perpetrating violence.
As noted in Watson (1987), the fundamental attribution error is when
observers attribute behavior not to external forces, but internal ones. The
external or situational causes are not considered, and more emphasis is
placed on individual characteristics.
In addition, According to Shaver (1985), attributions of causality
presuppose attributions of responsibility, which presuppose attributions of
blame. Peterson and Seligman’s early research showed that the
hopelessness theory is a useful explanatory model of depression following
victimization. According to Peterson and Seligman, battered women should be
more likely to make internal, stable and global attributions for their
victimization because intimate partner violence is more likely to be ongoing.

Anger
Anger is defined as an emotional reaction characterized by extreme
displeasure, rage, indignation or hostility. Most of the respondents experience
this emotional reaction and this is true with the experience of Marriane in
which she disclosed, “Mao gyud tong kanang murag didto grabe na gyud
kapuno lagot na gyud kay ba murag wala na gyud ko’y kabutngan sa akong
kalagot bitaw kay murag grabe na nakong hilak-hilak. Grabe na kay nana ko
sa kalisod unya siya, igo ra siya magdula-dula ug computer games. Unsa
mana siya? Mura bitaw’g, grabe gyud kayo.” (I was so mad at him. I cried
because I was in a difficult situation but what he does was just to play
computer games.)
This was also similar to the experience of Gab and Fatima. Fatima
stated, “Naglagot naman gyud ko ba kay gilaparo na gud ko niya ato, mao to,
niana ko nga, bulag nata! Ayaw na ko’g samoka pa kay wala ko
nanginahanglan ug uyab nga dili kasabot ug manglaparo pa gyud!” (I felt
angry because he slapped me and I told him, I want a break up and that hs
should not bother me again. I told him that I didn't need a boyfriend who does
not understand me and would even have the audacity to slap me.)
 27

In a study conducted by Avdibegovic, Brkic and Sinanovic (2017),

Female victims of intimate partner violence have significantly more intensive
negative emotional dimensions in comparison to women who were not
abused. Victims with higher frequency of abuse describe themselves as more
sad, apathetic, lonely, angry, quarrelsome and less sociable.
In addition, According to Roberts (2002), anger management alone has
not been shown to be effective in treating partner violence offenders, as
intimate partner violence is based on power and control and not on problems
with regulating anger responses. Anger management is recommended as a
part of an offender treatment curriculum that is based on accountability, along
with topics such as recognizing abusive patterns of behavior.

Academic issue
Three of the respondents revealed that they experienced academic
problems. It addresses current aspects of education, learning and the main
conditions involved in poor school performance.
Regine expressed, “Pero, kana gyung kung mag-away gyud mi dayon
matimingan nga naa ko’y quiz, ana kay murag dili gyud ko kaconcentrate ug
tarong. Kung sa academics kay wala pa kay ko’y nakit-an nga improvement
kay nag-away mi atong niagi napud dayon wala ko katarong ug answer gyud
sa quiz ato.” (When we’re having a fight, we’re also having a quiz and I cannot
concentrate because of our fight. When it comes to academics, I have not
seen an improvement because we had a fight last time and I wasn’t able to
answer in our quiz.)
This was also experienced by Marriane in which she stated, “Karon
nga year, actually daghan kaayo ko’g kanang absents kay ing-ana lagi unya
dili ko katulog. Muundang naman gani ko’g skwela.” (This year, actually I had
a lot of absences because I can’t sleep. And, I also decided to stop going to
school.)
Similarly, Gab commented, “Wala nako naapil sa College Scholar.
Nigamay gyud akong grado, super. Maygani graduating nasad ko." (I wasn’t
included in the list of College Scholar. I received lower grades but still relieved
 28

because I am already a graduating student.) Because of the violence

experienced by Gab, her studies were affected for she was mentally disturbed
of her situation with her partner which resulted to her poor academic
performance.
According to Rigby (2000) there is a strong relationship between
exposure to violence and poor academic performance. Students generally
develop a poor study habit due to anxiety, fear and worries as reinforced
through nightmares and exposure to the presence of the perpetrator. As a
result, their grades and scholastic performance suffer tragically.
In addition, according to hopelessness theory, individuals who feel
helpless about changing the occurrences of highly valued negative life
outcomes are more vulnerable to the development of hopelessness
depression (Abramson, Alloy, & Metalsky, 1989).
Learned helplessness theory explains how they stop believing that their
actions will have a predictable outcome. It is not that they cannot still use their
skills to get away from the perpetrator, stop the abuse at times, or even to
defend themselves, but rather, they cannot predict that what they do will have
the desired outcome, sometimes they use force that might seem excessive to
a non battered woman in order to protect themselves (Walker & Lenore,
2009).

Fear and anxiety

The fear and anxiety that most respondents experienced have
associated reasons. These are: Fear of being blame when they leave their
partners, fear of the physical and verbal violence inflicted by their partners
and worrying for their sake.
Regine shared her experience, “Ako man gung makuan kay basin
magmahay ko or in-ana, gakahadlok ko’g in-ana or di ko ganahan na i-
blame.” (I do not want to regret and I’m afraid to be blame or I do not want to
be blame.)
Experiences of worrying for her partner was also shared by Gab in
which she revealed, “Makahilak nalang ko’g hunahuna nga wa siya, wa mani
 29

klaro oy. maypag wala nalang diay. Kuan gyud ko, naa ko’y naa pa gyud ko’y
anxiety usahay. Four days na gyud ni nga wala siya nagparamdam sa akoa
dayon magworry bya gyud ka. Magworry gyud ka kung kuan dayon ang kuan
pud ana kay wala gyud bitaw siya’y pakialam kanang gapasagdan rako niya."
(It makes me cry every time I think that he’s not here. Sometimes I have
anxiety because of that. There was that time when he didn't contact me for
four days and it makes me worry and he doesn’t care about me.)
Laura also stated, “Naa tu’y time nga gilabay na niya iyang cellphone
kay nag-away mi. Busa nahadlok na kayo ko kay bulagan naman nako siya."
(There was a time when he threw his phone because we had a fight, and so I
felt scared of breaking up with him.)
This was also experienced by Fatima in which she shared, “Mahadlok
ko ba nga maghikog bitaw kay nakita na biya nako nga sa ka pila nga times
nako nga attempt !nga pakigbulag niya, mao gyud iyang buhaton man gud.”
(I’m scared because he might commit suicide. I’ve seen him do it every time I
attempt to break up with him.)
According to Bartlett (2014) study, majority of victims of Intimate
Partner Violence had experienced heightened levels of anxiety, blunted
emotional reactions, loss of meaning in life and emotional break-down while
they found themselves within these relationships
Additionally, Pico-Alfonso et al. (2006) assessed the impact of men’s
IPV on their female partners’ mental health, including state anxiety. They
found that the severity of state anxiety was high in women who had been
abused and had depressive or other related symptoms.
Moreover, Archer (2004) had already demonstrated there were no sex
difference in anger but other studies have found that women are more likely to
experience greater levels of fear and fearfulness of potential danger (e.g.,
Harris & Miller, 2000).

Depression
Depression was found to be associated with any exposure to Intimate
Partner Violence in adult life and was more likely to affect women.
 30

Depression is defined as a common and serious medical illness that

negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act.
Depression also causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in
activities once enjoyed.
Most of the respondents experienced depressive symptoms. Regine
shared her experience, “Ako kay gusto ko storyahan dayon siya kay gusto
man siya na pasagdan lang. Pero ako kay kung in-ana man gud kay dili ko
katulog sa gabie kay mao lagi, magsige ko’g hunahuna unsa diay akong
nabuhat, ana-ana. Dayon, pagbuntag dayon kay murag mubalik napud ang
kabalaka dayon maghilaka napud ko. Matingala silang mama ug papa kay
mukalit lang ko’g hilak, ana.” (I want to talk to him when we have a problem
but he wants to ignore it. But in such situation, I cannot sleep and I overthink
of the things that I have done wrong. When I woke up in the morning, I cannot
help but worry and cry. My parents wonder every time they see me crying all
of a sudden.)
Marriane also stated,”Daghan kaayo ko’g suicidal thoughts gyud siya
pero ako ra gyung gihuna-huna kay gina try lang gyud akong self nga
magpositive. And then kanang, sige ra ko’g kay maglabad jud akong ulo ay as
in kanang labad gyud bitaw. Ambot ngano na siya. Murag depressed naman
gani ko nga positive kay ko nga pagkatao unsa nalang kaha kung negative ko
kung pessimistic kay ko. Na wa na siguro. Dugay ra siguro ko gilubong ani.” (I
have a lot of suicidal thoughts but I am trying myself to be positive. I always
have a headache and I do not know why. I already feel depressed even if I am
an optimistic person. How much more If I’m a pessimistic person? I would
have been buried a long time.)
This experience was echoed by Gab, Laura and Fatima. Fatima stated,
“Mabuang ko ug hunahuna ba kay dili biya gyud ta ganahan anang ginakulata
bitaw ta. Kinsa man sad gyud ganahan ana ba, nga uyab pa gani mi ani ha
unya how much more kung sa future, kung kami man gyud ang magkadayon.
Unsa nalang kaha iyang mabuhat sa akoa. Kanang in-ana bitaw nga thinking
ba.” (It drives me crazy when I think that he hurts me. Who in the right mind
would like to be in this kind of situation and to think that he is still my
 31

boyfriend. How much more when he is already my husband? What level of

harm can he possibly do to me by then?)
According to Tshweneagae and Seloiwe, (2010), feelings of inferiority
and worthlessness can be created because of emotional abuse. Other
psychological effects may include panic attacks, or depression
Furthermore, as in adult relationships, psychological abuse in teen
relationships diminishes the victim's independence and destroys her self-
esteem so that she feels she has no other option than to remain in the
relationship. The psychological effects of teenage abuse are just as severe as
the physical injuries and need to be taken as seriously, especially since they
occur during the young woman's formative years (Suarez, 1994).

Trauma bonding
Traumatic bonding is a common and overwhelmingly unconscious
phenomenon that occurs as abuse survivors seek to psychologically negotiate
extreme levels of stress and threats to physical safety caused by their abuser.
Allen (2001), defines attachment trauma as trauma that occurs within
an attachment relationship as well as to trauma done to the attachment
system itself. An understanding of attachment trauma is essential to the
understanding of the experience of a woman in an abusive relationship.
Attachment trauma creates extreme distress as well as undermining the ability
to regulate that distress.
Furthermore, victims tend to believe this is the abuser's real self, and
when the mask starts to slip more and more, they believe it’s "out of
character" and it must be their own fault for making their partner angry.
People stay in these relationships partly because they are trying to win back
the abuser's affection (Dodgson, 2017).

Length of Dating relationship

As victims of intimate partner violence, the respondents have greater
acceptance by still staying in the relationship despite of the violence that they
have experienced from their partners. A study done by Lo and Sporakowski
 32

(1989) found that knowing the onset of abuse was not needed in order to find
that most individuals planned to extend the length of the relationship despite
perpetrating and/or receiving abuse.
This is true with the experience of Regine in which she shared, “Murag
feel nako kay ang gagunit nalang gyud sa among relationship is katong
kadugayon sa among relationship. Masayang ko sa mga memories.” (I feel
that the only reason that holds our relationship is its length and I fear that our
memories will be wasted.)
This was also heard in Laura wherein she shared, “Siyempre, three
years na bya mi so grabe na gyud ang foundation sa among relationship and
taas napud kaayo mi ug panahon nga pag uban. Lisod na bya gyud na ibuhi
ng in-ana para lang ato and happy bya gyud ko sa iya.” (We were three years
in a relationship so there I already a great foundation of our relationship. It is
already difficult to let him go and I’m still happy with him.)
Fatima echoed this statement in which she revealed, “Sayangan sad
ko sa kadugayon bitaw sa among relationship unya four years biya. Bihira
nalang bya gyud nang relasyon nga magdugay unya ang among panag-uban
pud ba, kay dili bya gyud nga sa tanan nalang time in-ana akong
gakadawatan sa iya kay happy pud bya ko ug mag-uban mi kay lingaw gyud
bya siya.” (I feel like the length of our relationship might be wasted and we are
already four years. Nowadays, it is very rare of being in a relationship with this
kind of length. And it is also not all the time that I receive those unpleasant
things from him. I’m still happy when I'm with him.)
Evidently, trauma theory highlights the psychological captivity that is
created as the result of traumatic bonding sheds light on the difficulty that is
experienced in the struggle to separate from an abusive relationship (Dutton &
Painter, 1981).
Moreover, according to this theory trauma of the abuse creates a
strong emotional tie that is characterized by cognitive distortions and
behavioural strategies that ultimately and unintentionally perpetuate the abuse
and strengthen the bond. This tie is distinguished by mutual emotional
dependency between the abuser and the victim. This emotional dependency,
 33

or traumatic bond, is said to develop because the abuse is characterized by

intermittent reinforcement. Intermittent reinforcement involves the alternating
of highly intense positive and negative, abuser-victim interactions.

Affect regulation
Affect regulation refers to the ability to maintain or increase positive
feelings and well being states and to minimize or regulate stress feelings and
defensive states. Most of the respondents coping style is seeking social
support. According to Folkman and Lazarus’ model (1988) coping is proposed
to result from two forms of appraisal; appraisal of the event, and appraisal of
the personal resources required (and available) to manage it. The interaction
between the appraisals then informs the type of coping strategy employed:
problem-focused coping, where the individual channels their resources to
resolve the problem, or, emotion-focused coping, where the individual’s
resources are directed at easing the distress the problem has created
(Folkman & Lazarus, 1988).

Seeking social support

Seeking social support means to look for “informational support,
tangible support and emotional support”. Accepting responsibility is to
acknowledge one's role in the problem and try to make things right. (Sabina &
Tindale, 2008).
Regine stated, “Mao ng usahay kay maglibrary nalang ko kay wala
kaayo tao or muuli ko. Naa ko’y mga friends pud nga kanang online nalang,
magchika ko’s ilaha, ay kanang mukuan man gyud sila sa akoa, advice ana.
Pero ako gyung coping kay kuan, manan-aw nalang ko’g salida or maminaw
nalang ko’g music.” (Sometimes, I go to the library or I will home. I have
friends online and I used to share to them. And they will then give me some
advice. But my coping mechanism is usually, watching movies or listening to
music.)
This narrative is also observed in Gab in which she shared, “Maulaw
gyud ko sa akong family nga mag ingon ug in-ana kay strikto ra man gud
 34

kaayo sila. Ako kay, di ko kabulhot bitaw’g storya, so mao nang naa ko’y
friends. Sa friends, kuan kuan ra dayon sila na dayon manungog, sila ra
dayon manungog nga, “Eh! Kuan.” (I feel ashame when sharing to my family
because they are so strict and I cannot even talk to my friends all the time.
But when I share it to my friends they tease me.)
Laura also revealed, “Usahay magstorya ko’s akong mga close friend
or close nga mga classmates.” (Sometimes, I talk to my close friends or close
classmates.)
According to Hamby and Gray-Little’s (2002), risk-based coping model
postulates that the most useful way to understand a battered woman’s choice
for sources of help is to consider her personal context, specifically, her risks
and resources. Though seeking help and advice from family members is often
the first step in reaching out, it has also been shown to be one of the least
effective strategies, as women often feel judged and experience a lack of
empathy from family (Goodkind et al. 2003).
Moreover, victims of intimate partner violence seem to look for
informational, emotional and tangible support. They also take time analysing
their problems, so as to be able to understand and come up with the right
solution. The abused women always wished for miracles, and they prayed a
lot. In most cases, they detached themselves from the experience so as to
avoid being severely hurt (Sabina & Tindale, 2008).

The Cycle of Violence

The cycle of violence describes the pattern that often occurs when a
woman is abused by her partner. While each woman’s experience is distinct,
the cycle points out the phases that tend to occur in abusive relationships.
When violence is a part of the way that people interact, there is a
pattern which tends to recur. This pattern has many variations, but after
listening to many women who are still in violent relationships, it is becoming
clear that the underlying emotions are very similar for the most of them.
The cycle consists of several phases: The Build Up Phase, occurs
where tension builds up in a relationship and the people involved cannot
 35

overcome it by taking it out or defusing it in a way which is acceptable to both

parties. One partner begins to dominate the situation while the other feels
pressured and then attempts to please him/her. As the resulting anxiety and
tension in the family builds up, it reaches a stage where it is harmful. This
phase merges into the Control Phase, The Standover Phase, in which in the
cycle of violence can be either long or short. The dominant partner seems
determined to control the actions of the family in general and/or his partner in
particular. They in return are frightened to do anything, which will precipitate
the next stage in the cycle, where there can be a violent outburst, The Violent
Outburst in which violence can take many forms and may not always be
physical. The outburst may involve extreme physical harm to the victim, or
emotional scarring which is not observable to the casual observer but can
have long lasting effects on the personality of the victim. The benefit to the
abuser is release of tension and the compliance of the victim but there are
costs as well, The Pursuit Phase in which, often the abuser will show remorse
and sorrow for what he has done. He fears of losing control over his partner
and may be fearful that his partner will leave him. So he may attempt to
recover lost ground by asking forgiveness, giving presents and making
promises about the future and changing his behavior and lastly, The
Honeymoon Phase, in which, it is the time after the violence, when
forgiveness has been sought and given, may be a time of great closeness for
the couple. However, inevitably, given the usual problems of daily life,
tensions will arise again, and if the couple has not learnt way to avoid it, these
tensions will gradually lead them back to the Build-up Phase and the cycle will
begin again (Chelliah and John, 2003).

Perspectives of female college student victims of Intimate Partner

Violence

The analysis of understanding the behaviours and perspectives of

victims of Intimate Partner Violence explored the meanings that they give to
 36

their experiences and gave a voice to such issues such as violence against
women.
The results about the perspective in their relationships indicated that
the majority of respondents viewed intimate partner violence as part of love
and affection by their partners, with the hope that the situation would change
and as something they could not escape from.
This is apparent to the statement of Laura in which she stated, “Oo.
Makaya ra man sad. I maybe emotionally and psychologically abused, but it
doesn't mean I should give up because of that reason. Ayha na siguro ug,
physically abuse na gyud. Perhaps, it builds our relationship through greater
heights. I concur that we will never experience love without getting pain. Pero
i-mind lang sad gyud nga mangayo’g pasaylo or mamawi. Girls are different
when it talks about emotions. We are very popular with that.” (I maybe
emotionally and psychologically abused, but it doesn't mean I should give up
because of that reason. Perhaps, it builds our relationship through greater
heights. I concur that we will never experience love without getting pain. But,
the important thing is to ask for forgiveness.)
Similar perspective was also shared by Marriane in which she stated,
“Makahuna-huna bitaw ko karon, nga naka gain gyud ko’g lesson nga if ever
naa gyu’y kanang something nga ing-adto magstart na gani gyud ug ano like,
muano gyud ka muaction gyud ka diretso nga kana bitawng dili gyud nimo
hulaton nga mugrabe ka akoa man gud kay kung maka’ingon gyud ko nga
overly forgiving ra kay ko. Lahi-lahi man ta nga tao lahi-lahi man ang
gina’agian, sabton nato sa atong kalahian. Mupasaylo ta sa kung kaya gyud
nato murag ing-ana bitaw. Pero before gyud ta mo bestow gyud ug
forgiveness dapat i-assess gyud nato ang kanang assess pud nato.” (I think
that I have gained lessons if ever something worst happen, you should move
immediately and should not wait to make the situation worst. I can say that I
am overly forgiving. People are different from each other, we have different
experiences. Thus, we should understand our own differences but before we
bestow forgiveness, we should assess if it is worth forgiving.)
 37

Regine also stated her perspective, “Naa ko sa stage sauna na nag-

ingon ko na, maypag wala nalang ko nag-uyab’uyab kay kuan, kapoy, dayon
kanang buslot gyud akong bulsa kanunay, ana-ana. Kanang, pero usahay
naa pud ko sa stage nga kanang murag lipay ko, ganahan ko na naa siya,
ana. Naa pu’y times nga murag dili nalang lagi ko, ana. Kuan, kanang, ambot
murag ga’depende siya sa sitwasyon kay daghan nama’y ga’ingon sa akoa na
“Bulagi nalang lagi, bulagi.” (I’ve been in the stage before where I said that I
will not engage into relationships because it’s tiring and a waste of money. But
sometimes, I’m in the stage where I am happy when he is here. I think it
depends on the situation because majority of my friends said that I should
break up with him.)
Gab also revealed her perspective in which she stated, “Murag
gakaanad nako. Gakaanad nako ma’am kay akong past mga exes kay in-ana
gyapon mao nang kapoya kay ani oy, kapuya kay nang in-ani ra man diay
pirminte murag feel nalang nako kay dili nalang sa siguro ko no, pahulay sa
siguro ko kay kapoy man diay nga magtinarong ka tapos imong partner dayon
kay kuan, dili suklian imohang kuan ba. Mao to nga dili nalang sa guru gyud
ko.”(I feel like I'm used to it because this is also similar to my experiences
from my past relationships and I am tired already.)
Fatima also shared her perspective in which she said, “Dili siya sayon
i-manage, I mean, kung sa emotionally, psychologically, mga in-ana bitaw nga
aspect kay ginadapatan na gud ko. Kung weak bitaw ka, wala gyud ka ay.
Kay ako man gud, kung mahitabo bitaw ning in-ani, akong gina’tan-aw ang
tanan kung unsa ba gyud kaha’y rason bitaw nganong niabot gyud bitaw sa
point nga nadapatan ko niya, ana ba.” (It is not easy to manage in emotional
and psychological aspects. Every time the situation will happen, I always look
on the reason why it comes to the point that he will inflict harm.)
The respondent also emphasized the level of commitment and hope for
change towards the intimate partner. The respondents were also asked if they
blamed themselves for the occurrence of intimate partner violence in their
lives and all recounted that their relationships with their partners were good
before they have reached at least 2 years of their relationships.
 38

Explaining men’s violence have referred to a diversity of biological,

social, individual, psychological and psychopathological factors and have
been criticized for presenting individual explanations that men could use as
excuses when they need instead to accept full responsibility for their own
violent behavior.
However, others have emphasized that knowledge about causality is
valuable, if it is used as a tool to better prevent and reveal male violence and
to improve the effectiveness of treatment programs for men inclined to
violence (Lawson, 2003; Holtzworth-Munroe & Meehan, 2004).
 39

Chapter 5

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATION

Summary

The study was conducted to identify the possible themes from the
respondents’ experiences in order to provide an overall explanation on the
factors that prompted those experiences. Phenomenological approach was
used and purposive sampling was employed to gather five female college
student victim of intimate partner violence. In-depth interviews were
conducted to generate information from their experiences. Thematic analysis
was undertaken to identify the major themes and sub-themes from their
experiences of intimate partner violence.

The Individual profile of female college student victims of intimate

partner violence described the stories of the respondents’ experiences of
intimate partner violence which explained the root of their conflicts that
triggered the violence.
Analysis from the respondents’ experiences revealed four major
themes and each major theme has its corresponding sub-themes that provide
subtle description of the respondents’ experiences. These themes are: (1)
Violence, (2) Psychological effects of the abuse, (3) Trauma bonding and (4)
Affect regulation.
Female college student victims of Intimate Partner Violence in
Bukidnon experienced two types of violence; physical violence and verbal
violence. The Psychological effects that are suffered by the respondents are:
shame and embarrassment, self blame, anger, academic issue, extreme
jealousy and possessiveness, fear and anxiety and depression.
Another experience that emerged is the trauma bonding which refers to
the respondents’ reason in staying with their partner despite of the violence
they experience.
 40

Furthermore, affect regulation describes the coping style of the

respondents in coping with the abuse they experience in which the common
coping style of the respondents is seeking social support particularly their
friends or peers.
The cycle of violence described the pattern that often occurs when a
woman is abused by her partner which is consists of five phases: (1) The
Build up phases, (2) The Standover phase, (3) The Violent Outburst, (4) The
Pursuit phase and (5) The Honeymoon phase
Perspectives of female college student victims of intimate partner
violence explored the meanings they give to their experiences in which most
of the respondents viewed intimate partner violence as part of love and
affection by their partners.
 41

Conclusion

The study demonstrated that at the core of the experience of the

victims of intimate partner violence is the mechanism of coping, which is
adopted for a range of reasons mainly in order to minimize, and thus to
endure the impact of intimate partner violence.
Performance in school cannot be separated from their experiences
outside the classroom. The victims’ experiences of violence can have a big
impact on willingness to take school seriously. Most of the victims revealed
that due to their experiences of violence, they have been suffering from low
academic performance.
In this study, the victims of intimate partner violence have been found
to seek social support in dealing with the abuse they experience in their
relationships. They believe that sharing their experiences and asking advices
from their friends and peers as an effective coping mechanism. Even though
some of the victims were not open enough, some expressed their belief that
the violence they experience is because love, extreme jealousy and
possessiveness. It is therefore important for support sources to have an
understanding of the factors associated with victims help-seeking decisions
which are often informed decisions made to the best of a victim’s knowledge
at the relevant point in time.
Attachment and longevity of the relationship are the reasons that the
respondents stick to the relationship. The respondents’ do not like the idea of
separating or breaking up with their partner because they have already
invested time and effort in the relationship.
In addition, intimate partner violence is no longer considered a private
matter but a public plague that must be combated with strict enforcement of
enlightened laws.
The implications of the future research are that the society would have
information and they would be able to use coping mechanisms which is
positive. They would also be motivated to stop the cycle of violence and be
able to utilize services in the community.
 42

Recommendation

Based on the results gathered and conclusion made in the study, the
following recommendations may be considered:

To the victims of intimate partner violence. Urgency of the need to

respond to the violence they experienced is recommended. Also there is a
need to provide information on ways they can use in order to be safe. They
should also be guided about how to seek help from their family, friends and
some authorized professional.
To the mental health professions. It is recommended that the peer
counselors must raise their visibility in the campus so that their counseling
services will become accessible. And it is also a must to revitalize the Peer
Counselors Program and to expand its expertise in counseling VAW cases.
To the community. It is recommended to collaborate with local
Domestic Violence shelter or women’s organization or police community
outreach officers who can work with the community, local schools and local
companies to organize and implement talks, meetings and other group
sessions to talk about this issue.
To the Schools. It is suggested to conduct seminars in which the
students and staff population will be taught how to identify and deal with
intimate partner violence. Office of Student Affairs, Guidance Office and other
support units like clinic and security guards must develop a protocol in
admitting VAW cases which is friendly, non-discriminatory is utmost willing to
uphold confidentiality.
To the government. It is suggested to encourage men and women to
take part in activities and discussions of programs related to Intimate Partner
Violence. These programs should promote the message that Intimate Partner
Violence is an issue that needs to be addressed not just by women but by
men and all institutions in society. The executors of such programs should
find ways on how to engage men meaningfully in issues that affect women.
The government must also accord teen women the same protection available
 43

to adults. Teen men must also be taught early that violence is not an
acceptable way to handle difficulties.
To the future researchers. It is highly recommended that future
researchers on the same topic would add a better number of respondents.
And that it would also be beneficial to expand the locale of the study.
 44

References

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Bates, E. (2011). The Relationship of Men’s and Women’s Partner
Violence to Personality and Psychopathology.
Bernardes, C. M., Ray, S., & Harkins, D. (2009). An Exploratory Study of
Resilience and Coping Strategies among Portuguese-Speaking
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survivors’ experiences.Retrieved from: http://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd
Fincham, F. D. (2015). Intimate Partner Violence in Turkey:
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Kanagaratnam, P., Mason, R., Hynam, I., Berman, H., & Toner, B. (2012).
Burden of Womanhood: Tamil Women’s Perceptions of Coping with
Intimate Partner Violence.
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A study of gender and role on personality, coping styles, attitudes to
coercion and self-reported victimization in a Ugandan urban sample.
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Levine, A. (2011). Intimate Partner Violence Typology, Self-Blame,
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Riley, D. (2013). Resilience Determinants in Women Exposed to
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 47

APPENDICES
 48

APPENDIX A

Republic of the Philippines

CENTRAL MINDANAO UNIVERSITY
University town, Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon

January 24, 2018

FR. VIRGILIO H. DELFIN, CPA, DBM

President
San Isidro College
Impalambong, Malaybalay City

Sir:

Greetings!

I am a fourth year Bachelor of Arts in Psychology student of Central Mindanao University. I

am currently working on my undergraduate thesis entitled, Experiences of Female College
student Victims of Intimate Partner Violence in Bukidnon, as this is a major requirement for
my degree. I am under the supervision of Dr. Leo G. Labrador, a licensed Psychologist.

This study would particularly explore and discover the experiences of the female college
student victims of Intimate Partner Violence. Moreover, this study is directed to enlighten the
college students about the effects of intimate partner violence to their physical and mental
health, prevention and intervention of victimization of female college students.

In light with this, I humbly ask permission from your school to allow me to conduct my study,
ask assistance with your Guidance Counselor in identifying the respondents of my study and
have an in-depth interview with the respondents. Specifically, I will need 2 respondents from
your school. Any data or information that will be gathered would be kept with strict
confidentially. In addition, your school would be provided with the results of this study should
you wish to do so.

You may contact me through this number 09060910004 or my thesis adviser through
09268960645, should you need further information and clarification regarding this matter.

Thank you very much and hoping for your favorable response.

Respectfully yours,

MAIKEH CARRELL G. BARTON

Researcher

Noted:
DR. LEO G. LABRADOR, Ph.,D., RP, RPm
Thesis Adviser
 49

APPENDIX B

Republic of the Philippines

CENTRAL MINDANAO UNIVERSITY
University town, Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon

February 17, 2018

Ma’am:

Greetings!

The undersigned is a student under the supervision of Dr. Leo G. Labrador of

the Department of Behavioral Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Central
Mindanao University. I am conducting my undergraduate thesis entitled,
Experiences of Female College Student victims of Intimate Partner Violence
in Bukidnon.

In connection with this, I am humbly requesting for your participation which

only involve an in-depth interview. The results of the study may be published,
but rest assured your name will not be used.

This study has been approved by FR. Virgilio H. Delfin, CPA, DBM. If you
have questions regarding this matter, you may contact me through this
number: 09060910004.

Thank you!

Respectfully yours,

MAIKEH CARRELL G. BARTON

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
4th Year
 50

APPENDIX C

In-depth interview questions

Can you please tell me about your story?

Follow up questions:

1. Tell me about your partner. How did you first meet?

2. When did this problem with your partner starts? Please
elaborate.
3. What do you think is/are the reason for your conflict?
4. Did it affect you physically? Psychologically? Emotionally?
Academically?
5. Looking back at your situation, what is your perspective on the
abuse you have experience with your partner/lover?