Date

4-26-2024

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

Al Sarno

Keywords

Intimate partner violence, resilience, spiritual supports, posttraumatic growth, religious supports

Disciplines

Education | Psychology

Abstract

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of Christian female victims of intimate partner violence as they engaged with their religious and spiritual supports through online interviews, journal entries, and focus groups. In this study, existential theory assisted in shaping an understanding of how victims of intimate partner violence interact with spiritual and religious supports to find meaning in their suffering and to identify what Christian women victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) describe as building their resilience and posttraumatic growth. Semi-structured interviews of 9 Christian women over 18 who experienced intimate partner violence were conducted. Secondly, journal entries were collected from the interviewees who were willing to respond to a journal prompt. Lastly, a focus group of 5 of the women who were previously interviewed was conducted in order to gain deeper insights from the participants. Responses from the interviews were coded and a list of significant statements by the participants was developed. Insights from the participants were summarized to offer greater understanding to helpers of intimate partner violence victims.

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