An Investigation into the Potential Uses of Domestic Abuse Applications in Husband-to-Wife Violence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Abstract The statistics of husband-to-wife violence are problematic in Saudi Arabia, where customs and traditions often create barriers blocking wives from leaving violent relationships. This study explores the reasons women submit to husband-to-wife violence and whether launching domestic abuse applications as an intervention tool can help female victims of this type of abuse in the Saudi Arabian context. To explore the research question, a qualitative study in the form of in-depth semistructured interviews was conducted with six Saudi female participants living in Saudi Arabia. The participants' views were analysed through a feminist lens based on writings about intimate partner violence. Studies on coercive control, such as those by Stark (2007, 2009, 2012) and Hearn (2004), were used to interpret data related to male power. Furthermore, the stages of change model based on the transtheoretical approach by Prochaska and DiClemente (2005) and based on additional studies (Frasier et al., 1999; Prochaska and Diclemente, 2005; Chang et al., 2006) were applied to understand women's behaviour when faced with husband-to-wife violence. The results showed that practices of coercive control take place through cultural norms and traditions in Saudi Arabian society, and lack of awareness of support renders women prone to submission to husband-to-wife violence. Yet there is a lack of literature evaluating the performance of domestic abuse applications for mobile phones, and the results in this study indicated that no participants had prior familiarity with domestic abuse applications. The findings indicated that launching domestic abuse applications in Saudi Arabia would benefit victims of husband-to-wife violence. Additionally, using the stages of change model in relation to domestic abuse applications can provide women with a decision aid tool and support them in managing husband-to-wife violence. Raising awareness via these kinds of applications will help women to shift to more serious levels of change in their relationships. At the same time, the mHealth approach has features that are compatible with protecting victims.