Coping Strategies of African American Adult Survivors of Childhood Violence.

Abstract

To enhance recovery, counselors need to recognize the range of coping strategies used by African American clients. A retrospective qualitative study was conducted with 70 African American survivors of childhood violence. The primary goal of this study was to explore the use of coping strategies. Results indicated use of the following strategies: spirituality, community support, activism, creativity, confrontation, introspection, humor, therapy, safety precautions, desensitization, racial refraining/racial attribution, transcendence and temporal framing, and escapism. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed. By attending to these strategies, counselors will be more equipped to address the recovery process of African American survivors of childhood physical and sexual violence.