NCJ Number
214012
Journal
Violence Against Women Volume: 12 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2006 Pages: 501-518
Date Published
2006
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Utilizing an existential-phenomenological methodology, this study examined the experience of meditation for female survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV).
Abstract
Nine themes emerged from female survivors' of intimate partner violence (IPV) experience with meditation: (1) meditation was motivated by a desire to change; (2) challenges with the learning process of meditation; (3) changes that surfaced as practice with meditation evolved; (4) distinct changes in bodily sensations during meditation; (5) experiencing group meditation practice as different from individual meditation practice; (6) feelings of well-being during and following meditation; (7) global cognitive or behavioral changes following meditation; (8) connection with the self or spiritual connection; and (9) the experience of meditation brought to the surface difficult information related to the IPV. The very nature of meditation as a self-controlled strategy immediately places a woman in a position of empowerment over her own recovery process, a significant factor for survivors of IPV. This study addressed the gap in the existing research on meditation with trauma survivors by exploring the experience for survivors of IPV. The study consisted of six female participants (co-researchers). Each woman had experienced IPV and had no experience with a daily meditation practice. Primary data were collected using semi-structured, in-depth, open-ended interviews. Tables, references