Thriving as becoming resolute in narratives of women surviving childhood maltreatment.
The purpose of this feminist interpretive study was to portray the experience of women thriving after childhood maltreatment (CM) through personal narratives. An interdisciplinary team conducted multiple in-depth interviews of 44 women survivors of CM who identified themselves as successful and doing well. The interviews focused on "what worked" and "what did not" with the aim of exploring aftereffects of CM; strengths and strategies; interactions helpful in overcoming abuse; and related sociopolitical contexts. Narrative analyses revealed a distinct, dynamic process of becoming resolute characterized by six dimensions that were not sequential steps but characteristics, actions, and interactions. This study offers a new understanding of the experience of women gaining solid footing in their lives, the peace of knowing the abuse is over, and power to move in an upward trajectory.
Hall
Joanne M
JM
College of Nursing, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37924, USA. joanne_hall@comcast.net
Roman
Marian W
MW
Thomas
Sandra P
SP
Travis
Cheryl Brown
CB
Powell
Jill
J
Tennison
Clifton R
CR
Moyers
Karen
K
Shoffner
Dava H
DH
Bolton
Kimberly M
KM
Broyles
Tonya
T
Martin
Tracey
T
McArthur
Polly M
PM
D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual; D004328:Drive; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012649:Self Concept; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult