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Avieli H. The Emotional Aftermath of Surviving an Attempted Intimate Partner Homicide. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2024:10497323241245643. [PMID: 39091209 DOI: 10.1177/10497323241245643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
While the issue of intimate partner homicide (IPH) has gained increasing focus, research that pinpoints the experiences of women who survived an attempted IPH is limited. Specifically, studies that aim to understand the aftermath of surviving such incidents are scarce. Thus, the aim of the present study was to explore the emotional experience of IPH survivors following the attack. An interpretive phenomenological analysis was used to analyze the narratives of 11 women who had survived an attempted homicide by their partner. Four major themes emerged: Living between dichotomies: A fragmented identity; Embodied fear: A fear that will not go away; The loss of future: A life divided; and The loneliness of surviving the "unsurvivable." Utilizing the ambiguous loss theory to examine the emotional ramifications of IPH indicates that survivors navigate persistent confusion and struggle to comprehend the loss. This involves challenges in moving forward and achieving resolution, conflicting emotions related to the loss, minimal recognition of the grief, and limited support from the social environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hila Avieli
- Department of Criminology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
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Gnaim-Mwassi N, Winterstein TB, Avieli H. I'm a 45-year-old woman in the body of an 80-year-old: The multiple losses of living and aging in the shadow of prostitution. J Nurs Scholarsh 2024; 56:405-416. [PMID: 38263887 DOI: 10.1111/jnu.12958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Research on aging women who are involved in prostitution is currently limited, both in terms of the number of studies conducted and their scope. Nevertheless, the available research suggests that women who are aging while involved in prostitution may confront some unique challenges. Thus, the study aims to explore the experiences of aging as narrated by Arab women in prostitution, using Intersectionality as a theoretical framework. METHOD Interpretive phenomenological analysis was used, and semistructured interviews were performed with 12 participants. FINDINGS Four themes emerged: "I'm a 45-year-old woman in the body of an 80-year-old:" Loss of physical and mental health; "There is no retirement plan in prostitution: Economic and social losses; As they were taken, my soul went with them too: The loss of the parenting experience and motherhood"; and "I'm going to get older with the disgust clinging to me:" The loss of authentic identity and dignity. CONCLUSION The findings demonstrate how aging serves to exacerbate overlapping forms of discrimination and marginalization. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Healthcare professionals, including nurses caring for older women in prostitution, should be aware of their unique circumstances, considering the social, economic, and healthcare obstacles they face. By being cognizant of these factors, healthcare practitioners can provide meaningful assistance in their pursuit of improved quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Gnaim-Mwassi
- The Minerva Center on Intersectionality in Aging (MCIA), University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- The Department of Gerontology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Tova Band Winterstein
- The Minerva Center on Intersectionality in Aging (MCIA), University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- The Department of Gerontology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Hila Avieli
- The Department of Criminology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
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Birkett J, Anson M, Cheshire A. "We make something with the flower, but feel like I make with myself something": The role of a community arts project supporting women who have experienced human trafficking. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2024; 52:244-257. [PMID: 37971289 DOI: 10.1002/jcop.23095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Human trafficking can have multiple adverse effects on a victim's mental and physical health. The study explored how a small UK community arts project was experienced by individuals post-trafficking and the impact it had on well-being. Community-based participatory research was employed to increase understanding the experiences of six female participants taking part in a community arts project. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Themes of Authentic Care, Building Confidence, and Creative Expression were developed. Findings suggest the community arts organization played a vital role in supporting women to build trust and social connections, as well as to feel valued. Artistic activities helped participants express individuality, had therapeutic benefits, and provided motivation, routine, and space from worries. The role of community arts organizations is important in supporting individuals in the context of limited post-trafficking services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Birkett
- Salomons Institute for Applied Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, UK
| | - Martin Anson
- School of Psychology & Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, UK
| | - Anna Cheshire
- School of Social Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK
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Preble KM, Twis M, Kollmeyer S, Greenwood D. Defiance and Strength: A Qualitative Study of Sex Trafficking Survivor-Advocate Coping Strategies. VIOLENCE AND VICTIMS 2023; 38:717-735. [PMID: 37813574 DOI: 10.1891/vv-2022-0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
In the two decades since federal law prohibited the trafficking of humans for sexual or nonsexual services, researchers have generated knowledge related to the mental and physical health consequences of the experience, the individual and environmental factors that facilitate exploitation, and the best practices for prevention and intervention. Despite these advances in knowledge about human trafficking, relatively scant research has explored the resiliencies of survivors, as a deficit-based narrative persists when exploring and contemplating survivor experiences. While the movement increasingly recognizes the need to situate the survivor voice in service delivery, advocacy, and research, an inquiry that values survivor strengths remains nascent. Using the Intersectional-Standpoint Methodology (ISM) and phenomenology, this qualitative study explores the nuances of resiliency during exploitation and exit among seven sex trafficking survivor-advocates in a small midwestern state. Themes related to coping strategies, intrapersonal coping skills, and interpersonal coping skills were revealed and contextualized through the four variables proposed in ISM. Implications for service provision and policy are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mary Twis
- Department of Social Work, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, USA
| | | | - Don Greenwood
- Social Work, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, USA
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Namy S, Namakula S, Nabachwa AG, Ollerhead M, Tsai LC, Kemitare J, Bolton K, Nkwanzi V, Carlson C. "All I was Thinking About was Shattered": Women's Experiences Transitioning Out of Anti-Trafficking Shelters During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Uganda. AFFILIA 2023; 38:278-293. [PMID: 38603358 PMCID: PMC9726634 DOI: 10.1177/08861099221137058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Human trafficking is an egregious violation of fundamental human rights and a global challenge. The long-term harms to survivors' physical, psychological and social wellbeing are profound and well documented, and yet there are few studies exploring how to best promote resilience and holistic healing. This is especially true within shelter programs (where the majority of anti-trafficking services are provided) and during the transition out of residential shelter care, which is often a sensitive and challenging process. The current study begins to address this gap by centering the lived experiences of six women residing in a trafficking-specific shelter in Uganda as they unexpectedly transitioned back to their home communities due to the COVID-19 lockdown. We explore this pivotal moment in participants' post-trafficking journey, focusing on how these women described and interpreted their rapidly changing life circumstances-including leaving the shelter, adjusting back to the community setting, and simultaneously navigating the uncertainties of a global pandemic. Four core themes emerged from the analysis: economic insecurities as a cross-cutting hardship; intensification of emotional and physical symptoms; social disruptions; and sources of hope and resilience. By centering their personal stories of struggle and strength, we hope to elevate survivors' own accounts and draw on their insights to identify actionable considerations for future programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Namy
- Healing and Resilience after Trauma (HaRT),
Asturias, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Laura Cordisco Tsai
- Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Harvard University John F Kennedy School of
Government, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Kelly Bolton
- School of Social Work, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Violet Nkwanzi
- School of Social Work, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Catherine Carlson
- School of Social Work, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
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Watts JR, Lazzareschi NR, Liu Y, O'Sullivan D. Childhood psychological maltreatment, sense of self, and PTSD symptoms in emerging adulthood. JOURNAL OF COUNSELING AND DEVELOPMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/jcad.12455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Justin R. Watts
- Department of Rehabilitation Health Services College of Health and Public Service University of North Texas Denton Texas USA
| | - Nicholas R. Lazzareschi
- Department of Counseling and Higher Education College of Education University of North Texas Denton Texas USA
| | - Yanhong Liu
- Department of Counseling and Human Services School of Education Syracuse University Syracuse New York USA
| | - Deirdre O'Sullivan
- Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling and Special Education College of Education The Pennsylvania State University State College Pennsylvania USA
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Cordisco Tsai L, Carlson C, Baylosis R, Hentschel E, Nicholson T, Eleccion J, Ubaldo J, Stanley B, Brown GK, Wainberg M. Practitioner Experiences Responding to Suicide Risk for Survivors of Human Trafficking in the Philippines. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2022; 32:556-570. [PMID: 34930048 DOI: 10.1177/10497323211062858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Human trafficking survivors experience elevated suicide risk in comparison to the general population. Anti-trafficking service providers in the Philippines have identified capacity building in suicide prevention as a critical priority given the insufficient number of trained mental health professionals and lack of culturally adapted evidence-based interventions in the Philippines. We conducted a focused ethnography exploring the experiences of non-mental health professionals working in the anti-human trafficking sector in the Philippines in responding to suicidality among survivors of human trafficking (n = 20). Themes included: emotional burden on service providers, manifestations of stigma regarding suicide, lack of clarity regarding risk assessment, lack of mental health services and support systems, transferring responsibility to other providers, and the need for training, supervision, and organizational systems. We discuss implications for training service providers in the anti-human trafficking sector, as well as cultural adaptation of suicide prevention interventions with human trafficking survivors in the Philippines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Cordisco Tsai
- 33574Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government, Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Catherine Carlson
- 8059University of Alabama School of Social Work, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth Hentschel
- Department of Global Health and Population, 1857Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Terriann Nicholson
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, 27424Columbia University Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Barbara Stanley
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, 27424Columbia University Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gregory K Brown
- Perelman School of Medicine, 14640University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Milton Wainberg
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, 27424Columbia University Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA
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Balfour G, Callands T, Okech D, Kombian G. Lifeline: A Qualitative Analysis of the Post Intervention Experiences of Human Trafficking Survivors and At-risk Women in Ghana. JOURNAL OF EVIDENCE-BASED SOCIAL WORK (2019) 2020; 17:332-346. [PMID: 32420836 DOI: 10.1080/26408066.2020.1729920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: With the increasing number of assistance programs that target trafficking survivors around the globe, there is a need for documentation of evidence that can inform such programs. This paper examined and documented the post-intervention experiences of trafficked and vulnerable women who had received services at Lifeline, a residential care facility in Ghana, West Africa.Method: The study employed a secondary qualitative analysis of in-depth, face-to face interviews with n = 37 participants. Data analyzes were conducted using thematic analysis and themes and sub-themes were then extracted.Findings: Three major themes emerged from the study: major achievements after leaving Lifeline; challenges after leaving Lifeline; and family dynamics and relations after leaving Lifeline.Conclusion: Despite experiencing various social, psychological, and economic challenges after the intervention, participants reported that this particular agency had positively impacted their lives.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - David Okech
- School of Social Work, University of Georgia
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Camp MA, Barner JR, Okech D. Implications of human trafficking in Asia: a scoping review of aftercare initiatives centered on economic development. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 15:203-213. [PMID: 29412070 DOI: 10.1080/23761407.2018.1435326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The trafficking of persons is one of the most egregious violations of human rights in modern society. Given the disproportionate effects across demographic categories of age and gender, as well as concentrated impacts within the developing world, there is a strong need for research and literature on program effectiveness and appropriate aftercare efforts for those persons whose lives and livelihoods have been impacted by trafficking. The purpose of this article is to provide a scoping review of what is known about effectively helping survivors of human trafficking experiencing lack of economic opportunity and the implications for practice and future research regarding the absence of literature. From over 14,000 initial search results, this article focuses on those initiatives (N = 16) that support economic development of the individual or family after being trafficked. Implications arising from the review for trafficking policy, areas for further research, and implications for practitioners are highlighted and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan A Camp
- a Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia , Athens , GA , USA
| | - John R Barner
- a Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia , Athens , GA , USA
| | - David Okech
- b School of Social Work , University of Georgia , Athens , GA , USA
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Le PD, Ryan NE, Bae JY, Colburn KD. Toward a Framework for Global Public Health Action Against Trafficking in Women and Girls. WORLD MEDICAL & HEALTH POLICY 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/wmh3.235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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