Family Life and Adventist Values Research Initiative (FLAVR)

Funded Projects

Rene Drumm, PhD, Southern Adventist University
Collaborating Researchers: Ruth Williams-Morris, PhD; Linda Crumley, PhD

Title: Developing outcome measures for effectiveness: A qualitative study of attendees from an Adventist adolescent residential treatment facility

Aims:

Identify common elements of residence/experience at the Advent Home treatment facility
Identify processes that former residents recall the Advent Home staff engaging in that facilitated their movement toward or away from self-directed behavior
Identify specific treatment strategies that should be considered in evaluating the overall performance of the Advent Home facility
Identify treatment and experiential outcomes

Methods: Sample consisted of males of ages 12 to 17. Interview guide used to investigate residents' experience, their response to treatment, and how their experience might impact their lives.

Barbara Hernandez, PhD and Heather Vonderfecht, PhD, Walla Walla College
Collaborating Researchers: Darold Bigger, PhD; Lana Martin, PhD; Susan Smith, PhD

Title: The impact of a church-based forgiveness seminar on individuals and families

Aims:

Misunderstanding, bitterness, and pain from unforgiven wounds often negatively impact family relationships by limiting communication.
There are high rates of child abuse within Adventist families (1995 research). As children grow and develop within religious homes, the way forgiveness is presented may either enhance spiritual and emotional healing, or cause greater pain and misunderstanding.
The ability to forgive and be forgiven is crucial for peaceful and harmonious family living.
This project looks at the role forgiveness plays in the area of family functioning.
Goal of this project is to develop an effective faith-based program to promote forgiveness and positively impact the family environment.

Methods: Ten to twelve subjects (faculty and students) recruited from Walla Walla College participated in a pilot of the procedures and curriculum for the study. The pilot study provided the presentation of the curriculum utilizing pre- and post-testing procedures concluding with a focus group session. Information from the focus group will be utilized to develop domains and items for the development of the Family Forgiveness inventory.

Marciana Popescu, PhD, Andrews University
Collaborating Researchers: Rene Drumm, PhD

Title: Spirituality and intimate partner violence: Exploring the power of faith in prevention and recovery

Aims:

Identify aspects of spirituality that equip women survivors of domestic violence to positively cope with domestic violence empowering them to heal and recover
Identify the preventive role of spirituality
Findings of the study are intended to better equip pastors, religious leaders, Christian professionals to understand how spirituality on the identity of women they are working with and to educate young people and church congregations as a prevention strategy to break the transgenerational cycle of domestic violence

Methods: An exploratory study that used a qualitative approach. In-depth interviews with women victims of domestic violence conducted and tape recorded. A secondary data analysis on a data set from a previous study run by the same research team was also conducted. Interviews consisted of open-ended questions. Interviews' transcripts were content coded.

*Information presented is summarized. For a complete description of the studies please contact the Center for Spiritual Life and Wholeness directly.

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