Family Sciences

Early marriage remains a persistent issue in Indonesia, with significant implications for women’s well-being and societal dynamics. Despite efforts to reduce its prevalence, challenges persist due to the intersection of social, cultural, and economic factors. This study aimed to examine the phenomenon of early marriage through the lens of women’s agency, focusing on their subjective experiences and perspectives within marital unions. Utilizing an interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA), individual interviews were conducted with 17 early-married women in rural Indonesia to explore their lived experiences. Results highlighted early-married women’s definitions of happiness within marriage, their perceptions of agency and empowerment in marital relationships, and the role of agency in conforming to or resisting early marriage practices. The study provided insights into the complexities of early marriages in Indonesia and underscored the importance of understanding women’s agency in shaping marital outcomes and quality within a collectivist culture.

Recurring themes in domestic violence literature have exposed hidden psycho-social-spiritual aspects accompanying the devastating reality of the many harms, disappointments, and life changes endured by domestic violence survivors. This is not just due to the actual abuses from intimate partners but also from others in near proximity. This article describes the accompanying devastation, whether intentional or not, and from both individuals and institutions, as collateral damage—the additional emotional and social consequences experienced by survivors of domestic violence. Through qualitative responses in a discussion of betrayal, loss, and grief, new insight is brought to the overlap, seriousness, and overall toll of these consequences. In recognizing that collateral damage exists in cases of domestic violence, helping professionals, community partners, and policymakers can repair harm, offer education, strengthen safety measures and protective strategies, and thereby support both the individual survivor and the family system subjected to abuse. This exploratory study aims to expand inquiry within the domestic violence literature and offer avenues of recognition of the compounding issues faced by many survivors and their children.

There have been many evaluations of specific parent programs, but there is minimal evidence of evaluation of the broader landscape of established advice or support services for parents of children under 18 years old. This paper investigates parent/carer perceptions of support services in their case study city. We explore and examine their perspectives on existing support services and how far they are meeting their needs. Through a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with parents and carers from across the city, a range of key themes emerged. These included the supportive environment and positive ethos of services accessed, lack of trust in some professionals, and perceived gaps in provision, highlighting the need for more activities, support, and accessible information, especially for families with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). These findings underscore the complexity of navigating the landscape of support services and advocate for more coordinated, accessible, and trustworthy support systems for parents and carers.