The Impact of Psychological Aggression on Women's Mental Health and Behavior: The Status of the Field
Abstract
Potential effects of psychological aggression have been investigated in terms of mental health disorders/symptoms, physical manifestations, personality traits, increases in physical and psychological aggression, and relationship changes and cessation. Probably because of methodological difficulties inherent in assessing this complex phenomenon, even the most commonly assessed outcome variables have produced contradictory results, with the exception of leaving or desiring to leave the psychologically abusive relationship. Some of the significant findings require more corroboration due to the small number of studies addressing them. The relative role of physical abuse in relation to psychological abuse has yet to be disentangled. Mediator/moderator variables are likely extremely important for explaining why particular consequences do not consistently result from psychological aggression. Although the hypothesized consequences/outcomes seem appropriate for further study, the most significant contribution may lie in intensive investigation of long-term, enduring psychological abuse that produces major personality and affective shifts in the recipient.
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Scoring method (frequency vs. dichotomous scoring) influences the magnitude of the effect size.
“Finally, scoring method (i.e., frequency vs. dichotomous scoring) influence the magnitude of the effect size, which is an important detail when comparing study results [9, 25].”
From The psychological subtype of intimate partner violence and its effect on mental health: a systematic review with meta-analyses (2022) · cites this paper as [9]
Most IPV measures have been developed based on research concerning female victims.
“Most IPV measures have been developed based on research concerning female victims [9].”
From The psychological subtype of intimate partner violence and its effect on mental health: a systematic review with meta-analyses (2022) · cites this paper as [9]
Findings from prior studies support an association between psychological violence and depression and anxiety.
“and findings support an association [9, 12–14].”
From The psychological subtype of intimate partner violence and its effect on mental health: a systematic review with meta-analyses (2022) · cites this paper as [9]
Most studies on the independent effect of psychological violence have examined its relationship with depression and anxiety.
“For the independent effect of psychological violence, most studies have examined the relationship with depression and anxiety [9, 12]”
From The psychological subtype of intimate partner violence and its effect on mental health: a systematic review with meta-analyses (2022) · cites this paper as [9]
Other methodological challenges in current research include sampling, design, scoring method, and gender bias.
“Other methodological challenges in current research include sampling, design, scoring method, and gender bias [9, 19].”
From The psychological subtype of intimate partner violence and its effect on mental health: a systematic review with meta-analyses (2022) · cites this paper as [9]
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- Authors
- Follingstad, D. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Kentucky (US)
- Corresponding author
- Follingstad, Diane R.
- Venue
- Trauma, Violence, & Abuse
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2009-05-20
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 271-289
- ISSN
- 1524-8380 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-8324
- OpenAlex
- W1989968721
- Cited by
- 147
- References
- 55
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 10.32
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Trauma Violence & Abuse (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UKnowledge (University of Kentucky) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Demography › Elder Abuse and Neglect
- Keywords
- psychological aggression, psychological violence, intimate partner violence, women's mental health, physical abuse, personality change, emotional change, breakup
- MeSH terms
- Aggression, Coercion, Female, Health Status, Humans, Internal-External Control, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Mental Health, Socioeconomic Factors, Spouse Abuse, Women's Health, Battered Women, Crime Victims
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