Perceptions of Psychological Abuse Versus Physical Abuse and Their Relationship With Mental Health Outcomes

Abstract

Prior research has been limited in examining at what degree aggressive actions are initially perceived negatively. The present research examined whether anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were associated with prior abuse or with being attributed to past or present relationships. Scales such as the Dating Relationship Profile (DRP) and hypothetical scenarios of abuse perpetration were used. This study hypothesized that acceptability ratings from hypothetical scenarios would predict answers on DRP items measuring whether physical or psychological abuse is considered acceptable in relationships. Specifically, gender would be a predictor variable. Convenience sampling of undergraduate psychology students from a comprehensive, metropolitan university in north Georgia was used and resulted in 291 respondents (n = 227 [78%] female, n = 64 [22%] male) whose ages ranged from 18 to 54 years (M = 20.57 years, SD = 5.12 years). The present research used a 2 × 2 between-subjects design examining gender and type of hypothetical scenario violence with perceptions of abuse as the dependent variable. A significant association between experience of abuse and attribution of anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms to past or present relationships and between experience of abuse and these symptoms was found. Results revealed a significant difference between acceptability ratings of psychological abuse and gender, with men perceiving psychological abuse as more acceptable.

Psychological Abuse as a Mediator Between Insecure Attachment Orientations and Relationship Satisfaction

“…Research on attachment and psychological abuse within romantic relationships would benefit from including a dyadic perspective. Despite its correlation with negative marital outcomes and decreased relationship satisfaction, psychological abuse is still seen as an “invisible harm” because it is not always perceived as damaging by clinicians (Follingstad & DeHart, 2000), victims (Arriaga & Schkeryantz, 2015), and perpetrators (Masci & Sanderson, 2017). Our findings show the importance of the mediational process in which anxious attachment of both partners promotes psychological abuse, which in turn has negative effects on satisfaction.…”

“…Psychological abuse also may receive less empirical and clinical attention because it is perceived as more socially acceptable (e.g., Masci & Sanderson, 2017) and less harmful than is physical abuse (Arriaga & Schkeryantz, 2015; Capezza & Arriaga, 2008; Hammock et al, 2015, 2017; Masci & Sanderson, 2017). Yet psychological abuse is more predictive of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology (i.e., intrusive experiences, defensive avoidance, and dissociation), anxiety, and depression than is physical abuse (Mills et al, 2018).…”

Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy in Reduction of Marital Violence and Improvement of Family Functioning: A Quasi-Experimental Study

“…Physical injuries are the main consequences of physical violence in admitted patients. Thus, marital violence negatively affects women's health (6)(7)(8)(9)(10).…”

Exploring Psychological Intimate Partner Violence Using Brief Expressive Writing Essays

“…NPIPV victim experiences are often dismissed (Masci & Sanderson, 2017). The purpose of this study was to explore the presence of NPIPV in romantic relationships through the qualitative analysis of an expressive writing intervention.…”

“…For one example, traditional gender role expectations may collectively influence people's perceptions of IPV regardless of previous victimization experiences, affecting prevention efforts. In particular, when individuals detect NPIPV perpetration, it is often dismissed or considered more acceptable than other forms of violence (Masci & Sanderson, 2017) unless the NPIPV is against women (DeHart et al, 2010).…”