It’s The Trauma Talking: A Phenomenology of Foster Parents’ Trauma Knowledge in Central Virginia

dc.contributor.authorCheek, Stephanie Lynn
dc.date.accessioned2023-02-06T16:36:15Z
dc.date.available2023-02-06T16:36:15Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.description.abstractThe purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe foster parents’ trauma knowledge in Central Virginia. The theories guiding this study include childhood complex trauma theory and experiential learning theory (ELT). As discussed by Herman (1992) and Terr (1991), childhood complex trauma theory explains the behaviors and actions of foster children who have suffered complex trauma. As discussed by Kolb (2014), ELT explains the processes that foster parents go through in gaining and applying trauma knowledge to their fostering. The central research question is, how do foster parents in Central Virginia describe their trauma knowledge? Further research questions include, how do foster parents describe the way trauma has affected their foster children? How do foster parents describe how they learned about trauma? How do foster parents describe the impact their trauma knowledge has on the way they parent foster children? The design for this study was Moustakas’ (1994) transcendental phenomenology. Data were collected from fifteen participants in Central Virginia. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, cognitive representations, and a focus group. Data analysis was conducted using the epoche, phenomenological reduction, imaginative variation, and synthesis of meanings and essences. Four major themes emerged: “Theme One: Experiences Prior to Trauma Knowledge,” “Theme Two: We are Missing Something,” “Theme Three: Integrating New Information,” and “Theme Four: The Change.” The implications of this study apply to researchers on trauma-informed care, foster parent training programs, Kolb’s (2014) ELT, complex trauma theory, the department of social services, and current and future foster parents. (Author Abstract)en_US
dc.identifier.citationCheek, Stephanie Lynn. (2022). It’s The Trauma Talking: A Phenomenology of Foster Parents’ Trauma Knowledge in Central Virginia (doctoral dissertation). Liberty University.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5139&context=doctoral
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11212/5721
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherLiberty Universityen_US
dc.subjectchild abuseen_US
dc.subjectcaregiversen_US
dc.subjectparentingen_US
dc.subjectresearchen_US
dc.titleIt’s The Trauma Talking: A Phenomenology of Foster Parents’ Trauma Knowledge in Central Virginiaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

Files