Strengths and Limitations
First, a strength of this study is the extensive study design, using 3 evaluation methods to assess the intervention’s effectiveness on multiple levels. Second, the IPVA experiences within the study sample represent all 4 types of IPVA (psychological, physical, economic, and sexual) that survivors can endure. Third, for diversity in cultural background and sexual orientation, this study is quite representative of the general Dutch female population. In 2020, overall, 93.2% of the general Dutch female population has the Dutch nationality [There are also several limitations to this study. First, we noticed the extensive registration procedure for the RCT study was a barrier for women to sign up for the intervention. Also, unlike other studies [Second, the reliance on self-reports for all outcomes and thus the risk of self-reporting bias are limitations. Furthermore, as the study partially took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, this external circumstance could have decreased or delayed progress or improvement in some outcomes, for example, with regard to increasing mental health problems [Third, for the measure on awareness (contemplation ladder), a lower score at M6 compared to M0 could mean that awareness became lower over time but also that they did not experience IPVA anymore or had left the abusive relationship, as scoring 0 was answering: “I don’t think of leaving my partner and/or seeking help. The relationship is not violent (anymore).” Thus, this impedes the interpretation of this outcome.Last, in terms of diversity and equity, this study has some limitations as well [