title: A Qualitative Study of Survival Strategies Used by Low-Income Black Women Who Experience Intimate Partner Violence.
abstract: Women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) are often portrayed as helpless victims. Yet many women who experience IPV implement strategies to help them survive the abuse. This qualitative study sought to explore the survivor strategies used by low-income black women who experience IPV. Authors used a semistructured interview guide to survey 26 survivors who reported being in an IPV relationship in the past two years. Thematic analysis revealed three types of survivor strategies used by low-income black women: (1) internal (use of religion and becoming self-reliant), (2) interpersonal (leave the abuser or fight back), and (3) external (reliance on informal, formal, or both kinds of sources of support). This article informs social work practitioners of the strategies used by low-income black women in surviving IPV so that practitioners can develop interventions that support these strategies.
authors.affiliation: Social Work, University at Buffalo, 685 Baldy Hall, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Noelle M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: St Vil
authors.affiliation: Department of Community-Public Health, School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: Bushra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sabri
authors.affiliation: Department of Community-Public Health, School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: Vania
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nwokolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Community-Public Health, School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: Kamila A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.affiliation: Department of Community-Public Health, School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: Jacquelyn C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D000066511:Intimate Partner Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D000073859:Survivorship; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: black women; intimate partner violence; low income; survival strategies