A Phenomenological Study of Spirituality as a Protective Factor for Adolescents Exposed to Domestic Violence

ABSTRACT

This phenomenological qualitative study was designed to understand how spirituality serves as a protective factor, mediating adverse developmental outcomes, for adolescents exposed to domestic violence. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 14 adolescents, recruited through an agency for domestic violence survivors. Four significant themes (learning from experiences, self-expression, beliefs, and feelings), through which participants’ spirituality manifested as a strength, emerged. This study adds to the growing support spirituality has received as a protective factor for at-risk adolescents and provides several practice implications. Future research is also suggested to better understand the developmental process by which spirituality serves as a protective factor.

KEYWORDS:

• Spirituality
• social work
• adolescents
• domestic violence
• protective factors
• phenomenological
• qualitative research