Date of Conferral
2022
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Psychology
Advisor
Jerrod Brown
Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a prevalent social problem that results in a high number of deaths, psychological trauma, and physical mutilation. Previous research showed African American women as having elevated rates of intimate partner violence attributable to a lack of representation in epidemiological studies due to low socioeconomic status and cultural norms. In Central and West Africa, IPV is associated with childhood marriages, lack of education, cultural norms, and socioeconomic status. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences and cultural views of both African American and African women and how they use these cultural views and traditions to cope with IPV. The theoretical approach focused on the attachment theory. The primary source of data came from seven individual face-to-face interviews. To ensure rigor, data analysis and thematic coding were utilized. The key research findings from this study revealed that all seven participants considered cultural views to be ineffective IPV coping strategies, a lack of cultural community support amplified IPV negative generational behaviors, women of African ethnicities suffer in silence, and that spirituality was a more effective coping strategy. The research implication for positive social change consists of apprising social scientists and practitioners of this underserved populace cultural beliefs and values and the potential of using spirituality for effective IPV coping. Future intervention programs should be tailored to address women of African ethnicities IPV needs.
Recommended Citation
Brooks, Patricia, "Intimate Partner Violence in Women of African American and African Cultures" (2022). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 13227.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/13227
