Virginia Tech
Experiences of an LDS Spouse when her Partner used Pornography: a Phenomenological Study
Abstract
dc:description.abstractPornography is becoming more and more accessible to society and the pornography industry brings in billions of dollars each year. Research is now starting to focus on the effects of pornography use within the marital context. The effects on the spouse of the pornography user are beginning to show that pornography use can be damaging to marriages, how one views one's partner and how one views oneself. Within the LDS Church, pornography has been considered a violation of their beliefs about chastity and moral cleanliness. With the rise of the use of pornography within the membership of the LDS Church, it is important for the ecclesiastical leadership of the Church and clinicians alike to understand the experiences of LDS spouses of pornography users. One LDS woman, married 18 years, white, participated in a 60 minute interview. Using a qualitative method and phenomenological lens, this study explores what is like for a married woman in the LDS Church to find out that her husband is viewing pornography, and being in direct violation of the Church's stance on sexual cleanliness. Themes found include emotional/psychological processes, spiritual processes and trying to make sense of these two processes in tandem. Aspects of the LDS Church that were not helpful were identified as well as aspects of the LDS Church that were helpful are outlined. Advice for Church leaders (local and general) was provided and advice for clinicians that may work with couples that find themselves in this situation is described.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Master of Science
- Level thesis:degree_level
- masters
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Human Development
- Department dc:contributor.department
- Human Development
- Grantor dc:publisher
- Virginia Tech
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2008
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Buhler, Brandon Michael
- Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
-
- McCollum, Eric E.
- Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
-
- Wittenborn, Andrea K.
- Sara, Mary Linda S.
Subjects
dc:subject × 5Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- In Copyright
- Licence dc:rights.uri
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Dc Identifier Other
- etd-09152008-232118
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/35069