published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Domestic abuse embodies many forms including physical, emotional, sexual, financial, and spiritual abuse (Statistics Canada, 2011a). This study explored the experience of rural Alberta women who have left domestic abuse, as research on domestic abuse tends to be focused on urban settings. The "rural and small town" (du Plessis, Beshiri, Bollman, & Celmenson, 2001, p. 1) definition was utilized in this study: an area outside of census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and census agglomerations (CAs). CMAs have population of 100,000 or more with a core of 50,000, and CAs have a core population of 10,000 plus (du Plessis et al., 2001, p. 1). Participants included both rural women who have left abusive relationships as well as service providers who offer resources to rural women fleeing abuse. Three women told their stories of leaving domestic abuse and five service providers took part in interviews. Using a narrative approach, I gained insight into the women's experiences while offering participants the opportunity to have their stories heard. Through content analysis numerous themes emerged from the interviews. There were four themes that were found to be common to urban and rural women and six themes that were unique to or exacerbated by the rural context. The themes associated with the rural context included (a) Under a Microscope, (b) It Didn't End There, (c) Lack of Resources, (d) Squashing My Spirit, (e) From Numb to Empowered, and (f) Reaching Out. Narratives have also been included to represent each woman's story. / xii, 201 leaves ; 29 cm

Thesis (Ph.D.) --Murdoch University, 2002. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Health Sciences. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 183-215).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Sociology, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on July 7, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-100). Also issued in print.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-53). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1996. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 154-165).

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-108).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-173). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-53).

Thesis (M.A.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 2004. / Vita. "May 2004." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-60).