Children’s Experiences of Staying at Domestic Violence Shelters in Sweden

Knowledge about children’s experiences of staying at domestic violence (DV) shelters, and their quality of life while living there, is limited. This study aims to examine how children describe staying at DV shelters in Sweden, and to identify important aspects of such experiences, both positive and negative. Thematic analysis was used to analyze 12 interviews with children aged 7–17 years. The findings show that the shelter environment, activities, and social relations are important for their quality of life, and that when these are lacking there is a risk that children will feel bored and isolated. Thus, although staying in a DV shelter for a period of time may be necessary to ensure children’s safety, it often comes at a cost; therefore, shelters need to be adapted to meet children’s needs. Safety and basic prerequisites, such as a clean and hygienic environment, are key to children’s quality of life at a shelter. Lack of amenities such as toys, activities, and outdoor space can make the shelter feel less like a “safe haven” and more like “safe storage” for children. For children, a shelter stay is characterized by disruption and the loss of various forms of social relationships. Placement authorities and shelter staff need to take each child’s preferences and needs for protection and support into consideration.