Date of Conferral
4-30-2026
Degree
Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
School
Social Work
Advisor
Alisha Powell
Abstract
Childhood exposure to domestic violence (DV) remains a significant and underexplored issue within clinical social work, particularly as it pertains to African American men. This doctoral project involved addressing limited understanding of how heterosexual African American men who were exposed to DV in childhood perceived these early experiences in terms of shaping their emotional wellbeing and intimate partner relationships in adulthood. Guided by the intergenerational transmission of violence theory, this study involved exploring reflective narratives of men who experienced such exposure. Via a basic qualitative research design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with seven purposefully selected participants who were 25 and older. Participants were recruited via community outreach, social media, and DV support networks, and interviews were conducted via Zoom. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze transcribed interviews and identify patterns related to emotional regulation, trust, relational functioning, and coping mechanisms. This study has the potential to inform culturally-responsive and trauma-informed clinical social work practices that support African American men navigating relational consequences of childhood DV exposure. Findings are expected to contribute to developing targeted therapeutic interventions and broader social work efforts that advance emotional health, relational resilience, and positive social change.
Recommended Citation
Lyman, Ronnie, "Perceived Influence of Childhood Domestic Violence Exposure on Intimate Relationships Among Heterosexual African American Men" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 19909.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/19909
