Abstract: Journal of Clinical Nursing & Reports

Abstract:
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) remains a pervasive and multifaceted social issue that affects individuals and communities worldwide [1]. Despite progress in addressing IPV, significant gaps remain in the literature, particularly concerning its impact on older African American women [2]. Furthermore, cultural norms and expectations within communities may exacerbate the problem, making it problematic for older women to disclose abuse or seek support. This study utilized a qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis (QIMS) to understand the IPV experiences of this community [3]. The inclusion criteria for this study involved qualitative research of the experiences of older African American women aged 50 and above who have faced IPV. To our knowledge, this is the first QIMS of older African American women’s experiences with IPV. The analysis process used to derive concepts from the data consisted of open, axial, and selective coding. Constant comparison was used to determine the studies' codes, categories, and themes. The researchers were mindful of their biases throughout the process to maintain reflexivity. Additionally, peer debriefing was conducted to validate the findings, ensuring the credibility of the analysis. Findings from this QIMS study resulted in five themes: normalization of abuse, distrust in social support systems, impact of family dynamics and loyalty, coping mechanism and empowerment, and generational differences in response to abuse. In conclusion, addressing the socio-cultural, economic, and systematic factors that impact older women's experiences is critical. Despite the intersecting forms of oppression, this community demonstrates internal resilience, resourcefulness, coping strategies, and capacity for survival through trauma and abuse [4]. Moreover, it is imperative to examine culturally sensitive supportive services to meet the needs of older African American women.