Date
4-26-2024
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)
Chair
Jeremiah Sullins
Keywords
Trauma, Faith, Addiction, Substance Use Disorder, Multiple Regression, faith-based treatment, women, recovery, PTSD, C-PTSD
Disciplines
Counseling
Recommended Citation
West, Jessica I., "The Intersection of Trauma, Faith, and Addiction among Women in Recovery at the Walter Hoving Home" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5501.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5501
Abstract
The association between substance use disorders (SUDs), childhood trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is becoming increasingly evident. There are faith-based programs available to assist women in overcoming addiction; however, there is presently no research examining the relationship between trauma, faith, and addiction among women in such programs as the Walter Hoving Home (WHH). Through a multiple regression analysis, this quantitative study evaluated the relationship between these three variables of interest among women in recovery. This study collected data through an anonymous Qualtrics survey with a self-report questionnaire, the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACEs), Tobacco Alcohol Prescription medication and Other Substance (TAPS Tools) assessment, Spiritual Beliefs and Interest Scale (SIBS), and Trauma Symptom Checklist (PCL-5). The researcher used a multiple regression analysis to determine the impact of the predictor variables substance use severity risk, length of time in the program, adverse childhood experiences, and religious faith on the dependent variable, current levels of trauma symptoms. After the multiple regression analysis, the researcher ran multiple independent sample t-tests to either confirm or deny findings in the regression. The multiple regression analysis required a sample size of 85; after removing one outlier, the research included 84. This study addressed the gap in the literature by examining the relationship that exists between a person’s religious faith and their duration of time in faith-based programs for addiction and its significance regarding current trauma symptoms for women in recovery. Recommendations for future research include expanding investigations to include men, program alumni, and other faith-based addiction treatment programs outside of the WHH.
