Abstract
Intimate partner violence is a serious health concern among African American women. It is estimated about 41% of African American women experience physical violence from an intimate partner. A number of risk factors, as well as cultural and contextual dynamics (e.g., gendered racism, low socioeconomic status, cultural norms, exposure to family violence, as well as cultural mistrust of the healthcare and legal systems), are associated with the high prevalence rate of African American women experiencing physical abuse. Due to the unique challenges that African American women survivors of partner violence often experience, there is a gap in the current literature on the best mental health practices for working with this population. This study aims to learn more about African American women survivors and their experience in therapy and the general approaches used in psychology they found helpful or not while in treatment. The present study interviewed six Black women with histories of partner abuse and utilized a phenomenological qualitative study to understand the treatment experience of the survivors.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
African American women; Intimate partner violence; Psychotherapy
Date of Award
2023
School Affiliation
Graduate School of Education and Psychology
Department/Program
Psychology
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctorate
Faculty Advisor
Thema Bryant-Davis
Recommended Citation
Duncan, Melissa Erinn, "Physical intimate partner violence of African American women: promising practices and pitfalls in treatment" (2023). Theses and Dissertations. 1382.
https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/etd/1382