Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community
Volume 45, Issue 4, 2017, Pages 261-273

“My heart is in his hands”: The lived spiritual experiences of Congolese refugee women survivors of sexual violence (Article)

Smigelsky M.A.* , Gill A.R. , Foshager D. , Aten J.D. , Im H.
  • a Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, United States
  • b Social Venture Strategies, New Delhi, India
  • c Counseling Center, Judson University, Elgin, IL, United States
  • d Department of Psychology, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL, United States
  • e Department of Psychology, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL, United States

Abstract

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has experienced widespread violence, including sexual violence. Sexual violence toward women includes rape, genital mutilation, and sexual slavery. Many Congolese have sought to escape such conditions as refugees in the USA. In the present study, we examined lived spiritual experiences of nine Congolese refugee women survivors of sexual violence. Overall, this study provides new insights into participants’ experiences of spirituality in the aftermath of sexual trauma and in living as a refugees. Consensual qualitative research (CQR) methods were used to analyze participants’ responses to a semistructured interview protocol. Participants endorsed faith that God was in control, reliance on prayer, gratitude toward God, and difficulty practicing their faith in the USA relative to Africa. Results indicated that religion/spirituality is an integral part of the women’s lives and that it appears to facilitate coping. Clinical and community mental health implications are discussed. © 2017 Taylor & Francis.

Author Keywords

Women Rape Spirituality Coping Religion Refugee Congo trauma

Index Keywords

refugee human epidemiology Refugees middle aged coping behavior Aged Adaptation, Psychological Congo ethnology religion United States Humans psychology female adult Sex Offenses Psychological Trauma psychotrauma sexual crime
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85029150496&doi=10.1080%2f10852352.2016.1197754&partnerID=40&md5=91be7474dc60a34a16d4df47746f6f00
DOI: 10.1080/10852352.2016.1197754
ISSN: 10852352
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English