Influence of Spirituality on Service Utilization and Satisfaction for Women Residing in a Domestic Violence Shelter

• NCJ Number: 237365
• Journal: Violence Against Women Volume: 17 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2011 Pages: 1244-1259
• Author(s): Dawnovise N. Fowler; Monica Faulkner; Joy Learman; Ratonia Runnels
• Date Published: October 2011
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The purpose of this study was to examine differences between shelter and faith-based service utilization and satisfaction in a shelter sample.

Abstract

Little is known about the influence of spirituality on service utilization and satisfaction among women survivors of intimate partner abuse (IPA). The purpose of this study was to examine differences between shelter and faith-based service utilization and satisfaction in a shelter sample (N = 73). Multiple regression techniques were used. The findings suggest that survivors with higher spirituality were more likely to utilize faith-based resources than shelters. Those who experienced greater IPA reported dissatisfaction with faith-based resources. These results suggest that spirituality should be incorporated into shelter services to meet survivors' spiritual needs, and faith-based services should adequately address IPA. (Published Abstract)