Perturbação de stress pós-traumático, trauma na infância e comportamentos de saúde em vítimas de violência pelo parceiro íntimo

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is considered a serious public health problem and a significant risk factor for women's health. In Portugal, studies that focus on the investigation of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), childhood trauma, and health behaviors in victims of IPV are scarce. This research aimed to explore the relationships between childhood victimization and adult re-victimization experiences with PTSD, also evaluating the involvement of women in health behaviors. The total sample consisted of 67 victims and 50 non-victims. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2), the Health Attitudes and Behaviors Questionnaire (QACS), and the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5) were applied. The results indicated that women victims of IPV have higher levels of childhood abuse and PTSD and incorporate fewer health behaviors into their lifestyles, compared to nonvictimized women. They showed that childhood abuse and IPV are positively correlated with PTSD and that health behaviors are negatively related to IPV, PTSD, and childhood sexual abuse. Additionally, they attested to physical and emotional abuse and psychological aggression as the strongest predictors of PTSD and childhood sexual abuse and sexual coercion as negative predictors of involvement in health behaviors. These results are discussed considering the existing literature and practical implications, limitations, and issues to be addressed in future investigations are presented.

Date of Award	22 Dec 2022
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Eleonora C. V. Costa (Supervisor)