Moving from surviving to thriving: African American women recovering from intimate male partner abuse

Res Theory Nurs Pract. 2004 Spring;18(1):35-50. doi: 10.1891/rtnp.18.1.35.28056.

Abstract

In this ethnographic study, a womanist framework was used to investigate the process of recovery from domestic violence. A purposive sample of African American women (N = 21) was interviewed to gain understanding of their recovery process. Survivorship-thriving was the overarching process. Six themes related to survivorship-thriving were identified: (a) Sharing secrets/Shattering silences--sharing information about the abuse with others; (b) Reclaiming the Self-defining oneself separate from abuser and society; (c) Renewing the Spirit-nurturing and restoring the spiritual and emotional self; (d) Self-healing through Forgiveness--forgiving their partners for the abuse and violence; (e) Finding inspiration in the Future-looking to the future with optimism; and (f) Self-generativity by Engaging in Social Activism--participating in prosocial activities to promote social change. This article presents recovery oriented towards survivorship-thriving as a transformative process overall characterized by resilience and self-generativity. This represents more than just recovery as return to homeostasis or "back to normal." Implications for survivor-informed practices are included.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anthropology, Cultural
  • Battered Women / psychology*
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Middle Aged
  • Self Concept
  • Spirituality
  • Spouse Abuse / psychology
  • Spouse Abuse / rehabilitation*
  • Truth Disclosure
  • Washington