Search

This paper integrates the findings from three studies on religious methods to cope with or prevent intimate partner violence (IPV). These analyses examined religious coping methods from multiple perspectives. One study surveyed Christian women's experiencing of coping with IPV, another presented findings from interviews with Christian women IPV victims, and a third investigated faith leaders' beliefs about the occurrence of IPV and the methods they utilize to support victims in their congregations. Findings describe mechanisms that may underlie how intrinsic religion and negative religious coping influence distress. Results highlight responses of leaders that may cause unintentional harm to IPV victims. Suggestions for religious leaders are provided on how to best approach this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on the relationships between religious coping methods, religious orientation, patriarchal religious beliefs, and psychological distress among 157 Christian women domestic violence victims who received counseling or shelter services in the southeast. Causal effects were estimated with ordinary least squares procedures using GEMINI, a FORTRAN program. Findings showed a significant negative effect of intrinsic religious orientation on psychological distress; significant positive effects of intrinsic and extrinsic religious orientation on positive religious coping methods; a significant positive effect of extrinsic religious orientation on negative religious coping methods; a significant positive effect of negative religious coping methods on psychological distress; and a significant positive indirect effect of extrinsic religious orientation on distress through negative religious coping. Implications for mental health professionals working with domestic violence victims are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explored the impact of religion on Christian women's experiences of male perpetrated domestic violence. A review of the extant research relative to this issue revealed that little is known about the relationship between religion and experiences of domestic violence. Participants in the Memphis, Tennessee area were asked to describe the relationship between their religion or faith and their experiences of domestic violence. Interviews were audio-taped and transcribed. Transcripts of the interviews were analyzed within a grounded theory methodological framework (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). Findings highlight the diverse and at times conflicting religious oriented coping strategies employed by Christian battered women to survive violence perpetrated by their spouse or intimate partner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]