Date of Conferral
5-5-2025
Date of Award
May 2025
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Psychology
Advisor
Jerrod Brown
Abstract
Exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) is widespread in childhood, but it is generally higher among African American children. Extensive qualitative analyses to understand the experiences of youth who have experienced IPV have suggested that help-seeking is vital to the survival rate of African American women. Nonetheless, most studies have involved mainly White participants from two-parent households. The current research included African American women who experienced IPV. Social learning theory was used in this study to describe the participants’ behaviors and experiences with IPV. A phenomenological approach was employed to uncover the participants’ lived experiences of IPV. Two research questions guided the research. The study sample included seven African American women between ages 21 and 40 who were subjected to IPV while growing up in single-parent homes. All the participants were asked 10 interview questions. Data analysis following a phenomenological approach revealed four themes: (a) experiences of abuse and neglect, (b) barriers to support and recovery, (c) emotional and psychological impact, and (d) resilience and personal growth. The findings of this study have potential implications for positive social change by assisting in the development of programs for reducing maladaptive adjustment outcomes after IPV exposure for higher-risk populations. Practitioners and policymakers may use information regarding the barriers to positive development experienced by participants in the current study to develop programming that addresses these concerns and builds on family strengths.
Recommended Citation
Salley, Lattakka, "Lived Experiences of African American Women Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence in Single-Parent Homes" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 17716.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/17716
