Date of Conferral
1-1-2021
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Human Services
Advisor
Randy Heinrich
Abstract
More than seven million women in America experience intimate partner violence (IPV), and this number increases daily within African American communities. While the secular community has strategically implemented policies to combat abuse, the Pentecostal church continues to experience challenges, not just in terms of awareness but also in developing programs to address the problem. Approximately 29.1% of African American women live in IPV relationships. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of (a) African American women in IPV relationships, and (b) engaging in initial support with Pentecostal church staff. These two criteria within criterion sampling resulted in six research participants taking part in semistructured interviews. A modified van Kaam phenomenological data analysis process led to the development of themes about lived experiences of African American women living in IPV relationships and obtaining initial support from Pentecostal church staff and leaders. The findings included four core themes: (a) church empathy for seeking support, (b) feelings of not being judged while seeking help, (c) positive experience with support staff, and (d) feelings of emotional encouragement during the meeting. The results of this study may inform church staff and service providers about the lived experiences of African American women and their initial contact regarding support for IPV relations and enable Pentecostal church staff and human service providers to reflect on present and improve future services for this population.
Recommended Citation
Fields, Claudette Lynette, "African American Women, Intimate Partner Violence, and Church Staff Support" (2021). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 11435.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/11435
