Domestic Violence as a Factor in Reproductive Fears (Based on Materials from Thematic Communities on the VKontakte Social Network)

The subject of this article is the impact of domestic violence on women's reproductive fears. Reproductive fears are emotional states - apprehension, anxiety, fear, etc., experienced by a woman during the period of preparation for pregnancy, its course, childbirth and caring for the baby. The author examines domestic violence in a broad sense, that is, as violence from any family member. The generally accepted classification of types of domestic violence among researchers is used: physical, sexual, psychological, economic, use of children to establish control over an adult woman, neglect of basic needs. The key research questions are: What types of domestic violence are women subjected to during pregnancy and childbirth? How do women perceive and describe these situations? How are these situations perceived by community members and reflected in the comments? Who is most often the subject of violence? What are the consequences for the woman and the baby? How do situations of domestic violence affect women's reproductive fears? The main research method is a qualitative content analysis of the thematic communities of the VKontakte social network "Overheard from pregnant women and mothers", "Childbirth stories. Pregnancy and childbirth", "Overheard from pregnant women". Cases of all types of domestic violence, except sexual, were identified. The most common are psychological and economic. Posts initiated by group members during one calendar month (January 2025) were selected for analysis, which described situations of domestic violence, as well as comments to them. Cases of all types of domestic violence, except sexual, were identified. The most common are psychological and economic. Triggers for all types of domestic violence are need and poverty, unresolved housing problems, interpersonal conflicts and divorce. Legal and financial illiteracy become a factor that increases women's vulnerability to domestic violence. For the first time, based on social media materials, it is shown that incidents of domestic violence increase reproductive fears, and in the long term can lead to adjustments in reproductive attitudes and plans, and refusal to have more children. As practical recommendations for preventing and reducing the negative consequences of incidents of domestic violence, as well as reducing reproductive fears, we can suggest strengthening measures to provide women with up-to-date legal, psychological and financial information, as well as creating a rehabilitation system for people with post-traumatic stress disorder. Thematic communities themselves can also play a positive role in overcoming reproductive fears if, in addition to posts initiated by subscribers, they publish useful reference information for women.

social fears, reproductive fears, violence, domestic violence, psychological violence, economic violence, physical violence, vulnerability, social networks, triggers of violence