Mental health and fear of separation in women victims of partner violence

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly reported diagnosis among women victims of intimate partner violence whose symptoms could have serious consequences in the processes of separation from the aggressor. The investigation involved 61 women from Leon (Nicaragua), with an average age of 32 years, who had suffered maltreatment, to whom a structured interview was applied. Access to the sample was made in collaboration with the Women's Police Station and other support devices for victims. The results show that the women in the sample presented a deterioration in mental health as a result of the frequency of abuse, as well as the influence of PTSD in fear of rupture with the relationship. Studying mental health and fear of separation from the aggressor is essential in the intervention with victims of intimate partner violence, as psychological damage could affect the maintenance of the abusive relation.