Coping Among Victims of Relationship Abuse: A Longitudinal Examination

Abstract

This longitudinal study examined the associations between relationship abuse, coping variables, and mental health outcomes among a sample of battered women obtained from shelter and nonresidential community agencies (N = 61). Sexual aggression was a stronger predictor of poorer mental health than was physical assault. Engagement coping strategies were generally predictive of positive mental health, and disengagement coping strategies were generally predictive of poorer mental health. Results highlight the complexity of the associations between different forms of relationship abuse, coping strategies, and mental health among this population. Keywords battered women; depression; anxiety; PTSD symptomsThe abuse of women in intimate relationships is a serious national public health problem. Approximately 1.5 million women are physically assaulted and/or raped by an intimate male partner in the United States annually (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003). These assaults are associated not only with direct (fatal and nonfatal) injuries and physical health problems but also with a range of psychosocial and mental health problems (Campbell, 2002;Koss, 1990). Although coping and the recovery environment are thought to be critical for the psychosocial adjustment of battered women (Carlson, 1997;Sullivan & Bybee, 1999), there has been a notable dearth of empirical investigations examining the relationship between different forms of coping and mental health outcomes among this population (Waldrop & Resick, 2004). Investigations that shed light on the optimal coping strategies for battered women are urgently needed to inform intervention, prevention, and advocacy efforts.Coping is typically defined as cognitive and behavioral responses used to manage internal or external demands perceived as taxing or exceeding the person's resources (Lazarus & Folkman, Correspondence regarding this article should be directed to Casey T. Taft, VA Boston Healthcare System (116B-2), 150 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130. taft@bu.edu. 1984). Most of the available coping studies of battered women have examined components of problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). Problemfocused coping refers to taking active steps toward altering the source of stress. Emotionfocused coping involves attempts to manage the emotional distress accompanying a stressor. Mitchell and Hodson (1983) examined associations between a coping measure developed by Billings and Moos (1981) and psychosocial adjustment outcomes among a shelter sample of battered women. These researchers found that both problem-focused and emotion-focused coping behaviors were associated with less severe depression and higher self-esteem and mastery. In another investigation of battered women in shelter, Arias and Pape (1999) used the Ways of Coping Checklist-Revised (Folkman & Lazarus, 1985;Forsythe & Compas, 1987) and found that greater use of emotion-focused coping was related to higher levels of symptomatology of posttraumat...

Langhinrichsen-Rolling’s Confirmation of the Feminist Analysis of Intimate Partner Violence: Comment on “Controversies Involving Gender and Intimate Partner Violence in the United States”

“…Given that our vast knowledge of intimate terrorism comes primarily from in-depth interviewing of survivors, one would think we would know a lot about violent resistance. Indeed, that research has told us a good deal about the creative means by which women cope with intimate terrorism, but most of it has been focused on non-violent coping (e.g., Campbell et al 1998;Campbell and Soeken 1999;Taft et al 2007), help-seeking (e.g., Gondolf and Fisher 1988;Kaukinen 2004;Leone et al 2007) and the process of leaving (e.g., Choice and Lamke 1999;Kirkwood 1993). There has been little focus on violent resistance to intimate terrorism, with the exception of the literature on women who kill their abusive partners (Browne 1987;Browne et al 1999).…”

Exploring Influences on Mental Health After Interpersonal Violence Against Women

“…What is referred to as disengaged coping was associated with increased depression and decreased self-esteem . Disengagement also relates to social withdrawal that was found to increase PTSD; increased engagement was predictive of more positive mental health (Taft, Resick, Panuzio, Vogt, & Mechanic, 2007). Finally, one's perception of poor coping ability was linked to increased trauma symptoms (Gorde, Helfrich, & Finlayson, 2004).…”

“…Sexual assault in the context of IPV was associated with greater mental health impacts than was physical assault (DeMaris & Kaukinen, 2008;Taft et al, 2007). The combined effects of sexual and physical violence were notable for women.…”

Impact of emotional approach coping and hope on PTSD and depression symptoms in a trauma exposed sample of Veterans receiving outpatient VA mental health care services

“…Coping styles employed subsequent to traumatic stressors may also play a role in either increasing risk of poor adjustment (e.g., heavy drinking or drug use to cope; Lazarus, & Folkman, 1984) or promoting resilience and decreasing an individuals' risk of developing or maintaining PTSD and depression. There has been some consensus within the literature that emotion-focused strategies are maladaptive by virtue of their generally positive association with poorer mental health outcomes, such as greater PTSD and depression symptom severity, following trauma exposure (e.g., Baschnagel, Gudmundsdottir, Hawk, & Beck, 2009;Blake, Cook, & Keane, 1992;Bryant & Harvey, 1995;Fairbank, Hansen, & Fitterling, 1991;Gil, 2005;Glass, Flory, Hankin, Kloos, & Turecki, 2009;Krause, Kaltman, Goodman, & Dutton, 2008;Nezu & Carnevale, 1987;Solomon, Mikulincer, Avitzur, 1988;Taft, Resick, Panuzio, Vogt, & Mechanic, 2007;Tiet et al, 2006;Tsay, Halstead, & McCrone, 2001). However, this association may be in part due to inadequate conceptualizations of emotion-focused coping, which have historically aggregated diverse strategies that encourage disparate ways of managing stressors, with some strategies promoting approach (e.g., seeking emotional support) and others avoidance (e.g., denial).…”