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Bio

Presentation

Paper

Arnitta Holliman
Marquette University

Subject Listing - Psychology
Advisor: Dr. John Gyrch

Thursday, Oral Session 2, Presentation 3, Carmichael Hall 102

AGAINST ALL ODDS: RESILIENCE IN WOMEN VICTIMS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE

In 2001, over half a million women in America were victims of domestic violence (Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief 2003). Domestic abuse is associated with a range of negative outcomes, including both physical and mental health problems; however some victims defy the odds and proceed to lead positive and productive lives. This study focuses on understanding how resilient women endure and recover from crises and traumatic life experiences by interviews in an effort to find how they coped with the violence. The purpose of this investigation is to determine to what factors they attribute their resilience in an effort to build strength-based prevention and intervention resources for victims of intimate partner violence. This sample will include women who have children between the ages of 8 and 12 and who have sought help from a local agency providing services to victims of domestic abuse. Preliminary examination of the interviews indicates that women reported social support and spirituality as the main factors that helped them cope with the violence. This investigation is ongoing and will continue to research resilience in women victims of domestic abuse.

Marquette University
McNair Scholars Program

Advisor: Dr. John Gyrch, Associate Professor, McNair Scholars Program, Psychology, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI