Graduation Semester and Year
Summer 2024
Language
English
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work
Department
Social Work
First Advisor
Dr. Rachel Voth Schrag
Second Advisor
Dr. Saltanat Childress
Third Advisor
Dr. Sophia Fantus
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Eusebius Small
Fifth Advisor
Dr. Anne Shelton
Abstract
Intimate partner violence against women is a pervasive global issue. For African immigrants in the United States, IPV continues to be a social problem, with many survivors seeking support from their informal networks. Informal networks refer to the social connections and relationships that individuals have outside of formal or professional settings, such as family members, friends, and acquaintances who provide emotional, practical, and social support. However, various cultural, religious, social, and legal barriers can make seeking informal social support for IPV challenging. To improve interventions designed to reach this vulnerable population, more inquiry is needed into how African immigrant survivors of IPV seek help. Seeking help is a significant step for many women who experience abuse to enhance their safety and gain support from others. They turn to family members, friends, co-workers, and others for informal support. This three-article dissertation aims to gain an in-depth understanding of how African immigrant survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) seek help and the specific types of informal social support they receive. It also investigates the experiences of the individuals who provide this support, exploring their perspectives on the support they offer and the challenges they may face. The first article is a scoping review that examines the current state of literature on support services for African immigrant survivors of IPV in the diaspora. Manuscripts two and three employed a novel approach by interviewing African immigrant survivors of IPV living in the United States and their informal support networks. Article two is a qualitative study that seeks to understand the lived experiences of African immigrant female survivors as they navigate the process of seeking informal support for IPV.
Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), ten survivors were recruited and participated in semi-structured interviews about their experiences seeking informal support. Article three is a qualitative study aimed at understanding the lived experiences of African informal support networks. These networks were recommended for interviews by survivors who participated in the second article’s study. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), ten informal supporters participated in semi-structured interviews about their experiences providing informal support. The results from this dissertation provide significant insights into the roles of cultural and linguistic alignment, emotional support, and economic empowerment in the recovery process. Emotional support, frequently intertwined with cultural and religious practices, empowering survivors and providing them with a sense of control. Economic assistance was crucial in helping survivors achieve independence from their abusive relationships. The study highlights a need for culturally sensitive interventions that integrate the survivors’ linguistic, cultural, and economic contexts to effectively support them.
Implications of these findings are profound for social work practice, emphasizing the enhancement of informal support networks which often serve as the first line of assistance. For policy, the findings suggest the removal of legal and administrative barriers that prevent immigrants from accessing support services, advocating for increased funding towards culturally competent programs. Future research should focus on expanding our understanding of the dynamics within informal support networks and the efficacy of integrating informal support in formal IPV intervention strategies, ensuring interventions are culturally and contextually tailored to the needs of African immigrant survivors.
Keywords
Intimate Partner Violence, African Immigrants, Help Seeking, Informal Social Support, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Disciplines
Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Work
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Mammah, Ricka Olga, "EXPLORING THE PROCESS OF SEEKING INFORMAL SOCIAL SUPPORT FOR INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AMONG AFRICAN IMMIGRANTS RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES" (2024). Social Work Dissertations. 139.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/socialwork_dissertations/139