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Zena Ouzounian-Dissertation.pdf (682.93 KB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Childhood Witnessing of Domestic Violence and Its Impact On Character Development Across Time and Adulthood Relationships

Ouzounian, Zena
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4845-6376
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1576091625968322

Abstract Details

2019, Psy. D., Antioch University, Antioch Santa Barbara: Clinical Psychology.
This phenomenological research study explored the experiences of five adult participants who reported witnessing domestic violence between their parents during childhood. Through the process of open-ended interviews, this work added further support to the existing understanding of the impact that childhood witnessing of parental violence can have on one’s adult behavior and relationships. Thus far, child witnesses to parental violence receive little attention, perhaps due to the lack of tangible evidence that they have been harmed. Existing studies in the field primarily make use of quantitative methods to examine negative outcomes of such experiences. This study identified similar themes among the five participants regarding their childhood experiences. Personal views and the potential needs of the former witnesses were highlighted by specific descriptions of the past experiences which may have led to the negative outcomes in their lives, such as sense of indirect victimization, posttraumatic stress, psychological distress, affected self-esteem/confidence, and relational difficulties. Furthermore, the adult participants described certain commonalities of unfavorable experiences during childhood-- fear, sense of endangerment, limited ability to predict daily routines, receiving poor modeling of communication and coping, poor relational connections, maladaptive coping, and difficulty understanding their environment. The burden of these experiences led to harm in their adult lives and relationships. Participants shared similar beliefs about the lack of support they received during childhood and expressed the need for therapeutic intervention as a form of resolving some of the embedded learned behaviors and coping skills from the past. This dissertation is available in Open Access at AURA: Antioch University Repository and Archive, http://aura.antioch.edu and OhioLink ETD Center, http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd
Brett Kia-Keating, EdD (Committee Chair)
Susan Ferrant, PhD (Committee Member)
Darice Orobitg, PhD (Committee Member)
138 p.
Behavioral Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Mental Health; Personal Relationships; Psychology; Psychotherapy; Therapy
Childhood witnessing of domestic violence; parental violence; trauma; character development; adulthood relationships; inter-generational transmission of violence; impact into adulthood; behavioral and adaptive skills; coping; adverse effects

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ouzounian, Z. (2019). Childhood Witnessing of Domestic Violence and Its Impact On Character Development Across Time and Adulthood Relationships [Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1576091625968322

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ouzounian, Zena. Childhood Witnessing of Domestic Violence and Its Impact On Character Development Across Time and Adulthood Relationships. 2019. Antioch University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1576091625968322.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ouzounian, Zena. "Childhood Witnessing of Domestic Violence and Its Impact On Character Development Across Time and Adulthood Relationships." Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1576091625968322

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

antioch1576091625968322
653
© 2019, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Antioch University and OhioLINK.