Date of Conferral
5-13-2025
Date of Award
May 2025
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Human Services
Advisor
Dr. Virginia Smith
Abstract
Domestic violence victims suffer not only physical abuse but also emotional, psychological, and economic violence, leading to long-term trauma, poverty, and recovery barriers. At least 40% of victims of abuse and their children have experienced some form of violence. The lack of shelters, counseling, and legal support deepens the sense of hopelessness victims often feel. In this study, the gap in literature was addressed by exploring coping strategies of survivors of intimate partner and domestic violence in rural North Carolina. The social and economic effects of survivorship were explored in this study, especially the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which exacerbated isolation and limited access to services. Grounded in the Duluth model and attribution theory, this study was an examination of how survivors interpret their experiences and the social systems that support them. Interviews with 14 survivors selected for their experiences with abuse and service barriers during COVID-19 resulted in insights into key challenges and coping mechanisms. The findings from thematic analysis of coded interviews revealed obstacles like isolation, financial instability, and fear of retribution while highlighting how survivors adapted during the pandemic, providing valuable information for developing survivor-centered strategies and community interventions. Positive social change implications include the potential to inform local and state governments and social and human services professionals regarding the socioeconomic disadvantages and barriers that need to be addressed to increase survivorship among intimate partner and domestic violence in rural North Carolina.
Recommended Citation
Best, Kimberly Renee, "Strategies for Intimate Partner and Domestic Violence Survivorship" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 17761.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/17761
