"My Partner Will Change": Cognitive Distortion in Battered Women in Bolivia

Absence Versus Presence of Intimate Partner Violence in a Sample of Spanish Women: Conflict Resolution Strategies and Associated Variables

Through two studies (N = 544 women), the role of types of relational problems (absence vs. presence of intimate partner violence [IPV]) in the use of conflict resolution strategies (exit and loyalty) was analyzed, considering the serial mediating effect of dependency and commitment and the moderating effect of benevolent sexism. The main results showed that higher scores in dependency and commitment predicted less use of exit strategies among women who reported IPV. No significant results were found regarding loyalty strategy and benevolent sexism. Ultimately, implications for women's perceived risk of future violence were discussed.

"Getting out from Intimate Partner Violence: Dynamics and Processes. A Qualitative Analysis of Female and Male Victims' Narratives"

In the 1970s intimate partner violence became recognized as a major societal problem in Europe. The study of the processes that enable victims to emerge from this violence is still topical. Even more so when it concerns male victims, who remain an under-studied population. This article examines the processes involved in bringing an end to intimate partner violence, including female and male victims. This qualitative study examines the intra- and inter-subjective changes underlying the processes of ending IPV in victims by using a narrative approach. Semi-structured interviews including the use of qualitative life calendars were conducted with 21 victims, 18 women and 3 men. The thematic analysis highlighted eight stages of a process of getting out from intimate partner violence. From the change in perception to the post-separation, victims' trajectories contain similar stages nuanced by individual and environmental specificities for both female and male. Getting out from intimate partner violence involves a sequence of changes in the perception of self, partner, couple and violence that allows for cognitive and relational transitions.

Barriers to Leaving a Relationship From the Perspective of Married Abused Iranian Women: Secondary Analysis of the Interviews With Abused Women

Violence has a heavy impact on the physical and mental health of women in developed and developing countries; however, most of the violence victims would suffer in silence and never leave their relationship. The aim of the present study was to identify the barriers to leaving a relationship from the perspective of married abused Iranian women. The present study was a secondary analysis of the interviews conducted in a primary study. The primary study that was conducted using the grounded theory approach has assessed the coping process with domestic violence in 24 married abused Iranian women. These women were selected from local parks, health centers, and universities of Tehran city using a purposive sampling method. Qualitative secondary analysis of the interviews was conducted, in accordance with the goal of this study, using content analysis. Four categories emerged through the analysis of the data including "fear," "lack of resources," "beliefs and attitudes," and "dependence" and the common theme between these categories was "deterrents to leaving an abusive relationship." Results indicated that contextual factors such as fear, lack of resources, attitudes and beliefs, and dependence were the reason for not leaving a relationship. Interventions for enriching women's resources (improving the condition of education and employment, and improvement of the formal and informal support systems), education about domestic violence and its management methods, and modification of the existing attitudes and beliefs in this regard could keep abused women from experiencing more violence.

Alteraciones en funciones cognitivas en mujeres maltratadas

El presente estudio ha tenido como objetivo realizar una revisión sistemática y meta-análisis sobre alteraciones en funciones cognitivas en mujeres maltratadas. Se ha contado con una muestra inicial de 643 registros obtenidos de las bases de datos: Medline, ERIC, PsycInfo, CNAIL, Proquest y Scielo. Su análisis llevó a la retención de 12 artículos sobre los que se ha centrado el estudio. Los resultados de la síntesis cualitativa indican que la atención, lenguaje, memoria, habilidades visoespaciales, función ejecutiva, velocidad motora y rendimiento educativo se encuentran alteradas en las mujeres maltratadas, con mayor evidencia de deterioro en las áreas de atención, memoria y funciones ejecutivas. Los resultados del meta-análisis sugieren presencia de daño cerebral en estas mujeres y una especial afectación de la memoria y funciones ejecutivas. Estos resultados avalan la existencia de alteraciones en funciones cognitivas en las mujeres que han sido víctimas de maltrato.

Women's Decisions to Stay in or Leave an Abusive Relationship: Results From a Longitudinal Study in Bolivia

This study examined Bolivian women's decisions to stay with or leave their violent partners. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) was used as the theoretical framework. One hundred thirty-four women were assessed 3 times over 6 months. The TPB constructs were measured at T1 and T2; relationship status was assessed at T3. At T2, attitudes about staying and leaving predicted the intention to leave. Intention to leave at T2 but not at T1 predicted relationship status at T3. These results suggest that the decision to leave was consolidated between T1 and T2, and attitudes toward staying were most relevant to this decision.