o:3051 Behind the Decision: Understanding the Reasons for Staying in or Leaving an Abusive Relationship Iza odluke: Razumevanje razloga za ostanak ili napuštanje nasilne veze en Godišnjak za psihologiju, Vol. 22, 2025, str. 125-147. Intimate partner violence against women represents a serious social issue with significant negative consequences for victims, their families, and society as a whole. Understanding the reasons why women remain in or leave abusive relationships is essential for the development of effective prevention and intervention measures. The aim of this study was to explore the factors influencing women’s decisions to stay in or leave violent relationships. The study was conducted with a sample of 15 women residing in a safe house, using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis for data interpretation. The findings indicate that key reasons for remaining with an abusive partner include the normalization or tolerance of less severe forms of violence, lack of social and economic resources, internalized patriarchal values, religious beliefs, emotional attachment, as well as fear and feelings of shame. In contrast, the decision to leave is typically triggered by the escalation of violence, abuse directed at children, loss of hope in the partner’s change, and fear of retaliation. This study highlights the complexity of decision-making processes among women experiencing intimate partner violence and underscores the need for comprehensive support that takes into account their psychological, social, and cultural circumstances. victims, intimate partner violence, remaining with an abusive partner, leaving process žrtve, partnersko nasilje, ostanak sa nasilnim partnerom, proces napuštanja 1552099 10.46630 1552101 1451-5407 2025-12-25T11:50:28.171Z 44 yes 46 Ivana Janković Filozofski fakultet 31830887 0000-0002-3932-4489 2025 application/pdf 401908 https://phaidrani.ni.ac.rs/o:3051 no yes 18 70 11 1065898 92000001 2025 18A13 18A1304 Godišnjak za psihologiju 22 125 147 Niš : Filozofski fakultet 2025