A large-scale, 4 year NIH-funded prospective qualitative study of thriving in women survivors of child abuse is nearing the end of data analysis (n=44). Its purpose was to explore the conditions, means, and patterns of achieving success in work and relationships in the wake of childhood maltreatment (physical, verbal, sexual abuse and neglect). This study emphasizes positivity rather than pathology, as is congruent with a feminist theoretical framework. Thriving refers to a multifaceted phenomena of exceeding “expected” degrees of life achievements and satisfaction among those having suffered the extreme adversity of childhood interpersonal violence. The participants were ethnically diverse with ages ranging from 20s-60s. We elicited narratives in a series of three interviews from women survivors who have experienced varying degrees of success/thriving. Analysis was done by an interdisciplinary team. We believe this research is uniquely innovative in its methods. The study combines several means of qualitative analysis: narrative analysis and discourse analysis. Narrative analysis was directed toward holistically understanding the experiential patterns of “thriving” among survivors of severe childhood trauma. Narrative analysis in this study was patterned after Lieblich et al. and Reissman’s models. Narrative was considered to be talk about consequential life events, not only specific “stories.” Including explanatory “talk” as well as content structured as stories is consistent with women’s models of communication. In women’s “talk” there are often multiple foci, or axes around which content is organized. Women tend to speak about constellations of relationships and multiple roles. Narrative analysis is especially helpful in illustrating trajectories of recovery and thriving after trauma, and understanding relational and self-meanings women construct in reference to these experiences.
Session #1123 - Qualitative Research Symposium: Complex Designs
The 29th Annual MNRS Research Conference (April 1-4, 2005)