Relationships among abuse characteristics, coping strategies, and abused women's psychological health: a path model.
We examined relationships between abuse, coping, and psychological health among 143 women who had experienced abuse in adult relationships. Measures included characteristics of the abuse, problem-focused and emotion-focused coping, Sense of Coherence, and four measures of psychological wellbeing--the SF-36 Mental Component Scale, the General Health Questionnaire, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, and a measure of perceived negative effects of the abuse. Problem-focused coping was not related to psychological health, and the influence of emotion-focused coping on psychological health was indirect. Sense of coherence had significant direct effects on psychological health. Both emotion-focused coping and sense of coherence were related to aspects of the abusive experience. The concept of sense of coherence has parallels with the recently proposed concept of meaning-focused coping, and the data suggest that finding meaning in adverse events such as abuse is associated with better psychological well-being.
Parker
Glennys
G
The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
Lee
Christina
C
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001315:Australia; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D016387:Women's Health