Loss of resources, health habits, self-esteem and psychological health of victims of intimate partner violence

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze in what way different types of abuse, loss of resources, health habits and self-esteem influences psychological morbidity in women victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) (N= 144). The present investigation consisted in a self-report retrospective study and all participants answered a battery of instruments including a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Self-Esteem Scale (SES), the Conservation of Resources-Evaluation Questionnaire (COR-E), the Brief Symptoms Inventory (BSI), Conflict Tactics Scales Revised 2 (CTS-2) and the Health Habits Questionnaire. The data indicated that women, victims of IPV, with low self-esteem presented more psychological morbidity (depression and anxiety), loss of resources, physical abuse with and without squeal when compared with those with higher self-esteem. Loss of resources showed positive and significant correlation with depression and anxiety symptoms, and self-esteem showed negative and significant correlation with the outcome variables. The results from hierarchical regression showed that sexual abuse and low self-esteem contributed significantly to depression symptoms over and above the effects of the different types of abuse, loss of resources and health habits, after controlling for socio-demographic factors. Low self-esteem and the absence of health habits contributed significantly to anxiety symptoms. This study shows the impact of IPV on mental health and highlights the need to design effective interventions to promote self-esteem and health habits in those who were abused.