Posttraumatic Growth Among African American Women Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse: The Roles of Spirituality, Locus of Control, and Self-Concept

1 online resource (112 pages) : PDF

2017

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Research has suggested that childhood sexual abuse (CSA) can hinder normal cognitive, social and emotional development. Research has also suggested that CSA contributes to higher levels of pathology than other traumatic experiences. Rates of victimization are highest among African American girls; however, the specific experiences of African American women survivors of CSA is rarely examined in the literature. Over the past two decades research on the aftermath of trauma has moved away from an exclusive focus on the negative effects, to examinations on how the struggle with adverse life events can result in growth and positive change. This process is defined as posttraumatic growth (PTG). The purpose of this study was to examine how spirituality, locus of control and self-concept related to PTG among African American women survivors of CSA. The study also examined how religious well-being, existential well-being, locus of control and self-concept related to PTG. A total of 60 African American women were included in this research study. Participants completed an online survey, which included the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (which includes the Religious Well-Being and Existential Well-Being subscales), Rotter’s Locus of Control Scale, Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, and a demographic questionnaire. The first standard multiple regression analysis indicated that spirituality, locus of control and self-concept were not related to posttraumatic growth. The second multiple regression analysis indicated that religious well-being was related to PTG. The findings of the present study suggest that religious beliefs and practices of African American women survivors of CSA do influence PTG. Results suggest that counselors who work with this population should assess how religious beliefs and practices can contribute to positive and sustainable outcomes.

doctoral dissertations

Psychology

Ph.D.

African American
Locus of Control
Posttraumatic Growth
Self-Concept
Spirituality
Women

Counseling

Post, Phyllis

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2017.

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). For additional information, see http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/.

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Hill_uncc_0694D_11546

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:1527