The Lived Experience of Women in Abusive Relationships Who Sought Spiritual Guidance

Abstract

Women in abusive relationships have recognized the silence of religious institutions and clergy in addressing intimate partner violence. The old message, that women are to blame when family dysfunction occurs, remains evident in society. The objective of this qualitative study was to describe the experience of abused women attempting to decrease their spiritual distress and obtain spiritual guidance from their religious leaders. The findings revealed that clergy were not helpful in alleviating the women's spiritual distress or intervening in the violence. Four themes that epitomized the negative outcomes of the help-seeking behavior were spiritual suffering, devaluation, loss, and powerlessness.