Chapter Four: Results

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between gaslighting and psychological abuse; and between gaslighting, psychological abuse, and specific personality traits in women that may lend vulnerability to experience gaslighting/psychological abuse in intimate relationships. There were several hypotheses related to the aims of the study. First, it was hypothesized that gaslighting scores on the Gaslight Questionnaire (GQ) would positively correlate with psychological abuse scores on the Subtle and Overt Psychological Abuse Scale (SOPAS). Relatedly, GQ scores would more strongly correlate with the subtle than the overt factor of the SOPAS. It was also hypothesized that positive correlations between three independent trait constructs-sensory processing sensitivity, intolerance for uncertainty, and neuroticism (i.e., via the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS), Intolerance for Uncertainty Scale (IUS), Multidimensional Emotional Disorder Inventory-Neurotic Temperament (MEDI-NT), respectively) and the GQ and SOPAS would emerge. And finally, it was hypothesized that positive associations would emerge between the effects of gaslighting, measured by the GQ and split into high and low groups, and the level of psychological abuse (measured by the SOPAS), and the level of the three trait measures (i.e., HSPS, IUS, MEDI-NT, and MEDI ancillary traits). Participants were self-selected/identified females who completed an online survey asking about experiences in an intimate relationship. Subjects completed demographics questions, two survey measures that assessed the level of gaslighting and psychological abuse experienced in a self-identified "worst" relationship, and then they completed three