Date

4-29-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

Thomas Hudgins

Keywords

intimate partner violence, refugees, parenting, trauma, phenomenology, Eritrea

Disciplines

Counseling

Abstract

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to explore how the lived experiences of surviving intimate partner violence (IPV) in the context of forced migration influences among Eritrean refugee mothers. Guided by trauma theory and attachment theory, the research seeks to understand the impact of IPV and displacement-related trauma on parenting behaviors and parent–child relationships among Eritrean women. This study recruited 12 Eritrean refugee mothers with IPV experiences and used semi-structured interviews conducted virtually (via Zoom) to gather rich, first-person narratives of their parenting challenges and resilience. Data analysis followed Moustakas’ phenomenological approach, involving horizonalization, thematic coding, and synthesis to distill the essence of participants’ experiences. Measures of trustworthiness (credibility through member checking, audit trails, reflexivity) and ethical safeguards (trauma-informed interviewing, informed consent, confidentiality protocols) were integrated throughout the methodology. By centering the voices of Eritrean refugee mothers, the study documents a phenomenological account of the lived experiences of Eritrean refugee women’s IPV and forced migration and their emotional attachment with their children. and their parenting. The study also seeks to inform culturally responsive, trauma-informed support for refugee families.

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