Main and Moderating Influence of Temperament Traits on the Association Between Intimate Partner Violence and Trauma Symptoms

Abstract

Trauma symptoms are common among survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV), although not all women who experience IPV develop trauma symptoms. One of the factors that may influence whether women develop trauma symptoms upon exposure to IPV is temperament. In this study, we examined the main and moderating effects of temperament traits (constraint, negative emotionality, and positive emotionality) on the association between IPV and trauma symptoms in a sample of young adult women ( N = 654) using a Bayesian approach to multiple linear regression to address significant non-normality in the data. Our results indicated that each temperament trait incrementally predicted trauma symptoms over and above the effects of IPV and other negative life events. Results further indicated that both negative emotionality and constraint moderated the influence of IPV on trauma symptoms such that IPV was positively associated with trauma symptoms at high levels of these traits but not at low levels. However, these effects differed depending on the type of violence experienced (physical, sexual, or psychological). These results extend previous research on the influence of temperament traits to the context of IPV; this underscores the importance of incorporating temperament in the study of IPV, as well as in the study of traumatic stress more generally.

Applying contemporary interpersonal theory to the study of trauma

“…Perhaps most notable is that whereas it can be argued that CPT is inherently compatible with interpersonal theory (e.g., because the themes by which it operates are all interpersonally oriented), PE (and to some extend EMDR) focuses primarily on affect, which is conceptually distinct from interpersonal dynamics and which some believe constitutes a separate (and comparably just as important) intrapsychic system (i.e., an affective system, also plotted on a circumplex; see Posner, Russell, & Peterson, 2005). Indeed, there is a small but growing literature on the role of affective traits as moderators of posttraumatic response (e.g., Yalch, Levendosky, Bernard, & Bogat, 2017). Recent developments in interpersonal theory incorporate affective factors, conceptualizing the interpersonal system as the lens through which the affective system receives input and the substantive cause for affective dysregulation (e.g., in the form of PTSD symptoms and other forms of posttraumatic distress; see Hopwood et al, 2015;Yalch et al, 2015).…”

Co-Occurring Substance Use, PTSD, and IPV Victimization: Implications for Female Offender Services

“…As with IPV and substance use, the association of PTSD and IPV victimization is both prevalent and complex (e.g., Kuijpers, van der Knaap, & Winkel, 2012; Seedat, Stein, & Forde, 2005; Yalch, Levendosky, Bernard, & Bogat, 2015). Among battered women residing in shelters, about 70% meet diagnostic criteria for current PTSD (Johnson & Zlotnick, 2007; Peterson, 2013).…”

Gender and Educational Differences in Perception of Domestic Violence Against Women Among Libyan Migrants in Manchester

“…Domestic violence against women (DVAW) is an issue in a marital or other intimate relationship (Hearn & McKie, 2010; Slabbert, 2017), sometimes termed “wife abuse” or “wife battering” (DeKeseredy & Hinch, 1991; Hague & Malos, 2005). However, it is worth noting that some researchers have distinguished between domestic violence and intimate partner violence, which is physical, sexual, or psychological harm against the other spouse or partner either by a current or former intimate partner (Flasch, Murray, & Crowe, 2017; Larsen, 2016; Mitchell, 2009; Yalch, Alytia, Levendosky, & Bogat, 2017). This study adopts the U.K. government’s definition of domestic violence which states,Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.…”