Objective:

Identify the contribution of developed research to a biopsychosocial sphere of women victims of violence and the meaning attributed to these experiences in their lives.

Method:

An integrative review conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed and LILACS databases, covering the years from 2009 to 2015. Results: We selected and analyzed 18 studies with the selection criteria being the reasons given by women for remaining with a violent partner, the reasons for not seeking help to break the cycle of violence, or the meaning attributed to this experience in their lives, including the social, religious, ethical and moral meaning, as well as the suffering derived from the experience.

Discussion:

Interventions at health institutions allow for the development of strategies for coping with this issue. A complaint lodged by the wife against her attacker demonstrates an early break in the cycle of violence.

Conclusion:

The results evidence aspects that can help to improve the quality of health among these women and show the importance of research to support practices in caring for women who are victims of violence.

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