An Examination of General Aggression and Intimate Partner Violence in Women With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Research has documented significant relationships between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), aggression, and intimate partner violence (IPV). Most of these studies have focused on men and measured violence by self-report. This study examined (a) the association between PTSD and general aggression among women, (b) the association between IPV and PTSD among married and/or cohabitating couples, and (c) the concordance between self and collateral reports of IPV. One hundred twenty participants provided information about PTSD symptoms and general aggression toward others, and 43 married and/or cohabitating couples provided information about PTSD and IPV. Women with PTSD reported more general aggression, IPV perpetration, and IPV victimization. Collateral informants of those with and without PTSD did not differ significantly in their report of IPV. Concordance between participants and spouses or partners was low to moderate. These results are discussed within the context of extant IPV literature.

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Emotional Intimacy Mediates the Relationship Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration in OEF/OIF/OND Veterans

Violence and Victims ◽

10.1891/0886-6708.vv-d-12-00080 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 28 (5) ◽

pp. 790-803 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Heidi Lary Kar ◽

K. Daniel O’Leary

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Medical Center ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Self Report ◽

Emotional Intimacy ◽

Ipv Perpetration

Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are at elevated risk for perpetrating intimate partner violence (IPV). Little research exists on the link between PTSD and physical IPV in Operational Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) veterans. A sample of 110 male participants was recruited from the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). Three separate models were compared to determine which best explained the relationships between PTSD, IPV, emotional intimacy, and relationship satisfaction. Constructs were assessed via a battery of standardized, self-report instruments. Thirty-three percent of veterans had clinically elevated PTSD scores, and 31% of the men reported that they engaged in physical IPV in the past year. Poor emotional intimacy mediated the association between PTSD symptoms and perpetration of physical IPV. Past predeployment IPV perpetration was shown to be a predictor for current postdeployment physical IPV perpetration.

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Women’s Appraisals of Intimate Partner Violence Stressfulness and Their Relationship to Depressive and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

Violence and Victims ◽

10.1891/0886-6708.24.6.707 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 24 (6) ◽

pp. 707-722 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Cecilia Martinez-Torteya ◽

G. Anne Bogat ◽

Alexander von Eye ◽

Alytia A. Levendosky ◽

William S. Davidson

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Psychological Functioning ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

The Impact

Intimate partner violence (IPV) increases risk for depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Most studies use a dose–response approach to examine the impact of IPV on mental health, but they often fail to explain mental health outcome specificity as well as to assess the impact of women’s subjective appraisals. The present research examined women’s IPV stressfulness appraisals and their psychological functioning (depressive and PTSD symptoms). Results indicate that IPV stressfulness appraisals are associated with depressive symptoms over and above frequency and severity of IPV. PTSD symptoms were associated with frequent and stressful IPV. Women who experienced highly frequent and highly stressful IPV were most likely to display comorbid depressive and PTSD symptoms. Results underscore the importance of women’s subjective experiences and the heterogeneity of women’s responses to IPV.

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The effects of gender role conflict restricted emotionality on the association between exposure to trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder and intimate partner violence severity.

Psychology of Men & Masculinity ◽

10.1037/men0000266 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 88-100

Author(s):

Ohad Gilbar ◽

Stephen R. Wester ◽

Anat Ben-Porat

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Role Conflict ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Gender Role Conflict ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Violence Severity ◽

Exposure To Trauma

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Trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and dissociative experiences during men’s intimate partner violence perpetration.

Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy ◽

10.1037/tra0000205 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 567-574 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Adam D. LaMotte ◽

Christopher M. Murphy

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration ◽

Dissociative Experiences ◽

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms ◽

Violence Perpetration

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Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Clusters and Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence: Findings From a U.S. Nationally Representative Sample

Journal of Traumatic Stress ◽

10.1002/jts.22048 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 28 (5) ◽

pp. 469-474 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Kathryn Z. Smith ◽

Philip H. Smith ◽

John M. Violanti ◽

Paul T. Bartone ◽

Gregory G. Homish

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Representative Sample ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Symptom Clusters ◽

Disorder Symptom ◽

Nationally Representative

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Intimate Partner Violence Predicts Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Severity Independent of Early Life and Deployment-Related Trauma in Deployed Men and Women Veterans

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260520938514 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 088626052093851

Author(s):

Meghan E. Pierce ◽

Catherine Fortier ◽

Jennifer R. Fonda ◽

William Milberg ◽

Regina McGlinchey

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Early Life ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Men And Women ◽

Ptsd Severity

Intimate partner violence (IPV) refers to emotional, physical, and/or sexual abuse perpetrated by a current or former partner. IPV affects both genders, though little is known about its effects on men as victims. The aims of this study were to determine if IPV is a factor contributing to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity independently of deployment-related trauma, and to determine if there are gender differences in these associations. Participants were 46 female and 471 male post-9/11 veterans. Four sequential regressions were employed to examine the independent contribution of IPV among multiple trauma types on PTSD severity in men and women at two epochs, post-deployment (participants were anchored to deployment-related PTSD symptoms) and current (within the past month). Models were significant for both epochs in men ( ps < .001) but not in women ( ps > .230). In men, IPV independently predicted PTSD severity in both epochs (β > .093). However, in women, early life trauma (β = .284), but not IPV was a significant and independent predictor for current PTSD. Thus, there are distinct gender differences in how trauma type contributes to PTSD symptom severity. Although the statistical models were not significant in women, we observed similar patterns of results as in men and, in some cases, the β was actually higher in women than in men, suggesting a lack of power in our analyses. More research is clearly needed to follow-up these results; however, our findings indicate that IPV is a contributing factor to PTSD severity in veterans.

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Functional Activation and Neural Networks in Women with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Related to Intimate Partner Violence

Biological Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.05.027 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 64 (8) ◽

pp. 681-690 ◽

Cited By ~ 105

Author(s):

Alan N. Simmons ◽

Martin P. Paulus ◽

Steven R. Thorp ◽

Scott C. Matthews ◽

Sonya B. Norman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neural Networks ◽

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Intimate Partner

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Cognitive Difficulties and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Female Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

CNS Spectrums ◽

10.1017/s1092852900001541 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 6 (9) ◽

pp. 787-792 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Colleen M. Kennedy ◽

Leila Tarokh ◽

Murray B. Stein

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Subsequent Development ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Cognitive Complaints ◽

Cognitive Difficulties ◽

Objective Evidence

ABSTRACTSubjective cognitive complaints of women exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) and nonabused women were examined using the Cognitive Difficulties Scale (CDS). Cognitive complaints were compared among victims of IPV with a lifetime diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (PTSD+; n=20), victims of IPV without lifetime PTSD (PTSD-; n=21), and a nonabused comparison group (n=22). The results indicated that both the PTSD+ and PTSD- groups had significantly higher levels of self-perceived cognitive difficulties than nonabused women. Furthermore, PTSD symptom severity was found to be positively correlated with self-perceived cognitive difficulties (r=.47). Further research is needed to determine whether cognitive complaints are associated with exposure to IPV, with the subsequent development of PTSD, or with other not yet understood factors. Furthermore, additional work is needed to resolve whether cognitive complaints are accompanied by objective evidence of cognitive dysfunction in victims of IPV.

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