Post-traumatic stress and psychological well-being of emotionally abused girls
The aim of the presented study was to analyse emotional abuse as a stressor of high intensity in a group (n = 52) of girls aged 17 to 25. The level of post-traumatic stress, satisfaction with social support, including emotional and instrumental support, and a sense of psychological well-being and its components in particular, were considered. It has been shown that a high level of post-traumatic stress is characterised by low indicators for the components of psychological well-being and dissatisfaction with social support. Differences in positive relationships with others, in environmental management, self-acceptance and psychological well-being in general were obtained between girls, who had experienced emotional violence, and those, who had had no such a life experience; among other things, the former are not satisfied with social support and they note lack of its instrumental component. Abused girls experience difficulties in managing everyday affairs, in choosing social conditions that would satisfy their life needs and values; they are characterised by rejection of themselves, self-doubt, sense of loneliness, isolation and frustration. In addition, they feel dissatisfied with the attention and understanding of others, and at the same time, they feel distrust of others and are somewhat closed to accepting support.