1. 12th International Congress of Behavioral Medicine
Budapest, Hungary 29 August – 1 September, 2012
PTSD in female victims of gender violence: Implications depending on the circumstances of abuse
Raquel Rivas-Diez & María del Pilar Sánchez-López
Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain
Research Group Psychological Styles, Gender and Health (EPSY)
Introduction
Results
75.3% of the participants developed the PTSD disorder. The results show that the most typical symptoms of PTSD are: re-experiencing (the presence of unpleasant and recurring memories about the abuse and psychological and physiological distress on recalling the events); avoidance symptoms (avoidance of thoughts, feelings or conversations related to what has been experienced, loss of interest in significant activities and restriction of emotional life); and hyperactivation symptoms (permanent state of hypervigilance and startle response).
Upon recognition of violence against women as a serious social problem, in recent decades there has been a considerable increase in research on gender violence. This recognition is due to the high incidence and severity of the consequences on the life and physical and psychological health of victims involved such violence.
While any type of victimization can produce psychological effects, in the case of battered women by their partners, the impact of this increase due to the following characteristics: violence often involves a combination of abusive acts of physical, psychological and/or sexual kind; it usually has a progressive and chronic character; it occurs repeatedly and intermittent, within the home and the person whom ones lives with (Follingstad, Neckerman y Vormbrock, 1988; Herman, 1997).
We proposed a model where the dependent variable mental health (good or bad) was included and as independent or predictor variables were selected: age, perceived social support, living with the abuser and PTSD. These variables were chosen taking into account clinical criteria. First, we performed logistic regression analysis separately for each of the variables included in the model. Then, we used bivariate logistic regression models to calculate odds ratios with confidence intervals of 95% (forward Wald method). See Table 2.
N Total
(N=97) %
Marital status
Singles
Married
Living in couple
In the process of separation/divorce
Separated or divorced 16 35 12 9 25
16.5
36.1
12.4
9.3
25.8
Education level
No studies
Basic incomplete
Basic complete
Professional technical
University 7 22 48 20
7.2
22.7
49.5
20.6
Employment status
Housewife
Informal work
Fixed work
Unemployed
Retired
Student 34 3 2 1
35.1
3.1
2.1
1.0
Socioeconomic level
Low
Medium-Low
Medium-High
High 18 57
18.6
58.8
MEAN SD
Age (Range 20 to 69 years)
41.86
9.99
Objectives
The main objectives of this research were: To identify the specific characteristics of PTSD in female victims of gender violence, to examine the circumstances of family violence and psychopathology in a simple of Chilean women, and to determine the most relevant circumstances of abuse from a psychopathological perspective.
Method
Participants
The sample of this research consists of 97 Chilean women victims of gender violence. Age: Range 20 to 69 years (M = 41,86; SD = 9,99). In Table 1 are described the characteristics of the sample.
Table 1. Sociodemographic characteristics of the sample β
E.T.
Wald p
OddsRatio
Exp (β)
IC 95% Exp(β) Infer. Super.
Step 3
Perceived social support
Living with a partner
PTSD
Constant
-1.168
-1.072
2.494
.920
.508
.528
.624
.984
5.289
4.126
16.00
.875
.021
.042
.000
.350
.311
.342
12.116
2.510
.115
.122
3.569
842
.963
41.12
Instruments
A structured interview used to assess the severity and intensity of the symptoms of this condition, according to the diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994), victims different traumatic events. This scale is structured in a Likert format from 0 to 3. Consists of 17 items, 5 of which refer to symptoms of re-experiencing, 7 avoidance and 5 to the hyper arousal.
Scale of Severity of Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Table 2. Variables entered in the logistic regression equation
Conclusions
The data from this study confirm the importance of perceived social support on women´s health. Battered women with good perceived social support report better health than they have no perceived social support. As for living with the abuser, it is shown how women living with a partner have better health offending than non-living. This could be explained by the need to be alert and in good physical and mental strength to withstand the abusive situation. Finally, it is shown, as is evident, how PTSD is a predictor of a poorer mental health. This data will be useful to understand the problems and consequences of abuse and to target interventions to be made to alleviate the plight of these women in cases where it appears PTSD.
General Health Questionnaire GHQ-12
Consists of 12 items and is used to detect psychological disorders. It is a self-administered questionnaire that analyzes the current status of the person tested, asking if you have experienced a symptom or behavior recently (during the last weeks).
Semi-structured interview for victims of abuse
Specifically designed for this research. This interview assesses sociodemographic characteristics of victims and circumstances of abuse.
Procedure
References
The women in this study were contacted through various Care Centres Women's of SERNAM in Santiago de Chile. All women participated in a completely voluntary, written informed consent about the research and the confidentiality of your data. The application of the instruments are made ​​individually in a single session by a clinical psychologist. The duration of the interview ranged from 1 ½ to 2 hours. 
United Nations (1994). Declaration on the elimination of violence against women. A/RES/48/104. Ginebra: United Nations.
Follingstad, D.R., Neckerman, A.P. & Vormbrock, J. (1988). Reactions to victimization and coping strategies of battered women: the ties that bind. Clinical Psychological Review, 8,
Herman, J.L. (1997). Trauma and recovery (Ed. rev.). New York: Basic Books. -
Acknowledgements: This investigation was funded by Council of Education, Culture and Tourism of the Autonomous Community of La Rioja, Spain. Plan Riojano I+D+I