The resilience, attachment, coping, and psychopathology of battered women: comparison of sheltered versus in-home women

Objective: To compare the resilience, attachment, coping, and psychopathology of the women exposed to domestic violence who were sheltered to those staying in their home. Methods: One hundred and fifty battered women -100 women staying in two sheltered houses in Istanbul (sheltered group) and 50 women staying in their home (in-home group)- were included in the study and completed the sociodemographic data form, the violence data form, the Scale for Adult Resilience (SAR) the Structured Clinical Interview Form for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, the Patient Health Questionnaire-Somatic, Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms (PHQ-SADS), the Adult Attachment Scale, and the Coping Strategies Scale. Results: The prevalence of any psychiatric diagnosis was 76% in sheltered group and 90% in in-home group. The most common diagnosis was post-traumatic stress disorder (35%) in in-home group and major depression (66%) in sheltered group. The major depression, somatization disorder and generalized anxiety disorder were significantly more common in in-home group. The total score of the PHQ-SADS scale and subscores of somatization, generalized anxiety, panic, depression, impairment of functioning were significantly higher in-home group. The total score SAR and subscores of self-perception, future perception, structural style, and family resilience were significantly higher in the sheltered group. Among the subscales of the Coping Strategies Scale, score of active coping was significantly higher in sheltered group, as scores of nonfunctional coping and behavioral dismissal were higher in in-home group. There was no difference between the attachment styles of both groups. Discussion: Domestic violence negatively affects the mental health of women necessitating medical treatment. Compared to the women staying at home and living under ongoing violence, the sheltered battered women are advantageous in terms of active coping attitudes and resilience to combat violence, and prevalence of psychopathology. [Anadolu Psikiyatri Derg 2017; 18(6.000): 561-570]