PERTANIKA
Journal of Quality of Life Studies
Full-Length Research Article
Domestic Violence and Post-Abuse Divorce as Social Development Challenges: Institutional Innovation, Social Protection, and Survivor Well-being
Nuruaslizawati Ayoba, Siti Hajar Abdul Raufa
a
Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin
Abstract
Domestic violence (DV) and divorce following abuse are often treated as private crises, legal events, or family transitions. This article argues that they are also social development challenges because they shape survivors’ safety, economic security, housing stability, psychosocial health, social participation, and child and family well-being. Drawing on feminist institutionalism, the capability approach, and social development perspectives, the article develops an integrated conceptual framework for understanding how institutional arrangements shape post-abuse vulnerability and recovery. The analysis highlights recurring gaps in legal, welfare, housing, psychosocial, and child protection systems, particularly fragmentation, bureaucratic burden, weak coordination, and unequal access among marginalised survivors. It also examines how survivor-centred institutional responses, including coordinated services, trauma-informed practice, safe digital access, economic support, and community prevention, may reduce exclusion and restore substantive freedoms. The article proposes an integrated social development model that links structural inequality, institutional responses, capability restoration, prevention, and long-term survivor and child well-being. It argues that effective reform must move beyond short-term crisis response toward coordinated protection that supports safety, autonomy, social participation, emotional support, and durable reintegration. The article contributes by repositioning DV and post-abuse divorce as linked survivor well-being issues rather than separate legal, family, or service delivery problems.
Keywords: domestic violence; post-abuse divorce; survivor well-being; institutional responses; social development
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 5: Gender Equality
Cite As (APA)
Ayob, N., & Abdul Rauf, S. H. (2026). Domestic violence and post-abuse divorce as social development challenges: Institutional innovation, social protection, and survivor well-being. Pertanika Journal of Quality of Life Studies, 1(1), Article e006.
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