Coping and posttraumatic stress disorder in women who suffer intimate partner violence

Intimate partner violence represents a serious worldwide issue according to research data and recent global reports. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between the presence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology and coping in women who suffer this situation. Eighty seven women between ages 19 and 69 ( M = 42.79; SD = 10.65), assisted because of this issue, completed diverse self-administered scales. Several statistically significant associations between PTSD variables and presence of maladaptive coping strategies were found, among them cognitive avoidance ( r = .38; p < .001). Results are discussed highlighting the relevance of analyzing the different coping strategies displayed by these women and identifying and approaching PTSD as a priority in order to reduce its impact and promote a healthier coping in this population.