Date
6-19-2024
Department
Helms School of Government
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice (PhD)
Chair
Vincent Giordano
Keywords
therapists, sexual violence, pandemic, experiences, navigation
Disciplines
Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration
Recommended Citation
Saldivar, Iris Lazette, "A Qualitative Descriptive Study of Therapists and Their Work with Socially Isolated Female Victims of Sexual Violence amid the COVID-19 Pandemic" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5722.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5722
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to assess the experiences of therapists and the descriptions of their navigation processes while working with female victims of sexual violence who were socially isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic in the state of Texas. The theory that guided this study was the theoretical framework of loneliness, social isolation, and associated health outcomes. The research study focuses on two research questions that sought to examine the experiences and navigation of virtual treatment of therapists who provided counseling during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to March 2022. This study sought to find a straightforward description of an occurrence; the goal was to examine how therapists who work with victims of sexual violence describe their work with isolated female victims of sexual violence during the COVID-19 pandemic and how they navigated throughout. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews with 20 therapists. The setting of the interviews was completely virtual and conducted via Zoom. Findings suggest that therapists who treat socially isolated female victims of sexual violence during the COVID-19 pandemic will experience high levels of strain and will utilize effective problem-resolution solving to overcome barriers brought forth by the pandemic.
