Depressive and posttraumatic symptoms among women seeking protection orders against intimate partners: relations to coping strategies and perceived responses to abuse disclosure.
This investigation examined the relationship of abuse-specific coping strategies and perceived responses to abuse disclosure to symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress among 131 women seeking a protection order against an intimate partner. Disengagement, denial, and self-blame coping strategies, as well as blaming of the participant by others, were associated with greater depressive and posttraumatic symptoms. None of the strategies of coping or responses to abuse disclosure were negatively related to depressive or posttraumatic stress symptoms. Findings suggest that mental health providers may find it useful to address these negative styles of coping while public education campaigns should target victim blaming.
University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, MN, USA. smflicker@yahoo.com
Sharon M
SM
Flicker
Catherine
C
Cerulli
Marc T
MT
Swogger
Nancy L
NL
Talbot
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003717:Denial, Psychological; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult