Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Criminal Justice

Advisor

Richard Worch

Abstract

Domestic violence is a public health problem in the United States. It can be associated with physical, mental, emotional, and psychological problems for the victims. African American (AA) women experience this type of violence more than any other ethnicity or race. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study is to identify and report AA women’s lived experiences of domestic violence. Even though research devoted to understanding domestic/intimate partner violence’s consequences is limited, this problem has devastating consequences for AA women. This problem needs immediate attention. Likewise, there is limited empirical research done on the topic: Why do African Americans experience domestic violence more than their White counterparts? Some of the barriers preventing AA women from reporting domestic violence are expected to be used to answer the research questions. Albert Bandura’s learning theory informed this study, which included semi-structured survey questionnaire to collect data from 20 AA women survivors at least 18 years of age located in the metropolitan area of Georgia. The phenomenological research method was used to explore the lived experiences of AA women. This study includes significant implications for social workers, law enforcement, the criminal justice system, and others interested in domestic violence.

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