Date of Award

2001

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

First Advisor

Anita Sankar

Second Advisor

Pamela Nickels

Third Advisor

Teresa L. Deshields

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore the coping styles of African American women and determine if different coping styles exist between those women who have experienced abuse versus those who have not. In this study, 60 African American women living in St. Louis, Missouri were obtained using a convenience volunteer sample from several sites which included a unisex hair salon, a center for women experiencing physical and sexual abuse and two community agencies serving the needs of low income families. They were administered the Coping Responses Inventory (Actual Form) and a demographic questionnaire.

Results of independent sample t-test suggested that, African American women who are abused are more likely to use Cognitive Avoidance and Acceptance or Resignation styles of coping compared to African American women who have not experienced any abuse.

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