Factors that Contribute to Resilience for Young Adult Black Women with Histories of Intimate Partner Violence
Open Access
- Author:
- Haynes-Thoby, Latoya A
- Graduate Program:
- Counselor Education
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- May 16, 2019
- Committee Members:
- Julia A Green Bryan, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Julia A Green Bryan, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Lisa M Conyers, Committee Member
Carlomagno Del Carmen Panlilio, Committee Member
Ashley Nichol Patterson, Outside Member
Diandra Janelle Prescod, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Diandra Janelle Prescod, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Margaret Ann Lorah, Special Member - Keywords:
- trauma informed care
trauma
resilience
Black feminist theory
counseling
intimate partner violence
domestic violence
social support
spirituality
Counselor Education
reflexivity interviewing
resistance
survivorship - Abstract:
- The purpose of this study was to identify factors that contribute to resilience for young adult Black women who have histories of intimate partner violence. This study aimed to understand how trauma exposure, spirituality, and social support contribute to resilience. Black-feminist theory and cultural betrayal trauma theory were used to situate this study, and to center the experiences of young adult Black women with histories of intimate partner violence. A quantitatively led mixed-methods study, including three hierarchical regression models that measured resilience, and two aspects of resilience, including adaptability and self-efficacy. Sequential transformative analyses were used to expand and elaborate factors that contribute to resilience for young adult Black women with histories of intimate partner violence. Computerized survey data, and semi-structured follow-up interviews were used to explore levels of resilience, perceptions of resilience, and contributors to resilience for young adult Black women with histories of intimate partner violence (N=108). Quantitative results revealed that social support was a statistically significant factor in explaining the variance in overall resilience scores, as measured by the CD-RISC-10 scale, and the adaptability and self-efficacy aspects of resilience, as measured by the CD-RISC-ADAPT and CD-RISC-SE subscales. The addition of a spiritually-ascribed orientation to spirituality was also statistically significant in explaining the variance in the adaptability and self-efficacy aspects of resilience. Reflective interviews included survey participants who indicated interests in participating in a brief follow-up interview were scheduled, and conducted without use of video in order to maintain anonymity. Qualitative findings illuminated the means by which young adult Black women used spirituality and social support to foster resilience, as well as how fighting back, victimhood, survivorship, and definitions that differed from commonly accepted descriptors related to access to resources, barriers, and formal support. Implications for training, practice, and future research are shared.