Profiles of Emotion Regulation and Post-Traumatic Stress Severity among Female Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence and posttraumatic stress disorder among adolescents and young adults in Haiti

Although the high prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Haiti is well-documented, its association with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among adolescents and young adults remains unexplored. Using a representative sample of adolescents and young adults from rural and urban areas across the 10 geographical regions of Haiti, this study investigates the association between IPV and PTSD symptoms. It explores the role of social support, emotion regulation, other traumatic events, and sociodemographic factors. The sample consisted of 3,586 participants, of whom 43.21 % (1,538) reported being in a dating relationship in the past year (56.04 % women). Overall, 25.53 % of the participants were categorized as having probable PTSD. Results showed that participants who experienced at least one episode of IPV victimization presented a higher prevalence of PTSD (32.28 %) compared to those who did not have any experience (16.29 %), χ2 (1) = 44.83, p < .001. The logistic regression model showed that emotional IPV, sexual IPV, traumatic life events, emotional dysregulation, and social support were associated with PTSD symptoms. This study highlights a strong association between IPV and PTSD symptoms, as well as factors that can contribute to the development and implementation of prevention and intervention programs among adolescents and young adults in Haiti.

Intimate Partner Violence and Alexithymia: Do Emotions Matter? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Intimate partner violence (IPV) encompasses physical, sexual, or psychological abuse. Recent evidence suggests that victims and perpetrators might share some common psychological characteristics. Particularly, high levels of alexithymia, a difficulty in identifying and expressing emotions, and an externally oriented thinking style were found in both victims and perpetrators when compared to the general population. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to quantify the levels of alexithymia in victims and perpetrators of IPV and compare these levels to controls. We systematically searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, using the following strings: ("intimate partner violence" OR "IPV" OR "partner abuse") AND ("alexithymia" OR "alexithymic"). The inclusion criteria were: adult perpetrators or victims of IPV; with or without a rehabilitation program; having or not a comparison group from the general population; alexithymia as outcome; all types of study design. Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. Data were meta-analyzed with random-effects models. Results showed comparable levels of alexithymia in victims and perpetrators of IPV (mean = 55.92 vs. 55.15, respectively). Furthermore, we found increased alexithymia in victims (Hedges' g, 0.87 [95% CI 0.43, 1.31]) and perpetrators (Hedges' g, 0.94 [95% CI 0.77, 1.12]) compared to controls. These results highlight that both perpetrators and victims exhibited high levels of alexithymia. A deeper understanding of this psychological dimension can help professionals to plan better-tailored interventions, in which all relevant factors associated with IPV are considered.

Emotional Dysregulation and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms: Which Interaction in Adolescents and Young Adults? A Systematic Review

Emotional dysregulation (ED) has recently been conceptualized as a transnosographic entity in major mental disorders, and increasing evidence has suggested association between ED and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), though the nature of this association is unclear. The aim of the present review was to examine the possible interplay between ED and trauma exposure in the literature, as well as a possible role for the comorbidity of PTSD or PTSS in adolescents and young adults. In particular, we explored whether ED may represent a risk factor for PTSD or, conversely, a consequence of traumatic exposure. This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines in three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Embase). The 34 studies included showed a wide heterogeneity in terms of the populations selected and outcomes examined. Most studies used the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and examined the relationship between ED, trauma, and psychopathological manifestations after the occurrence of trauma, with a focus on child abuse. Although current data in the literature are heterogeneous and inconclusive, this research highlights the role of ED as a mechanism that may mediate vulnerability to PTSD, but also as a predictor of severity and maintenance of typical, atypical, or associated PTSD symptoms, suggesting prevention programs for PTSD and other mental disorders should support the development of emotion regulation strategies.

Emotion regulation and executive functioning in female victims of sexual assault suffering from PTSD

The sexual abuse of women has major repercussions on several spheres of the victims' daily lives and can lead to the development of PTSD. We were interested in the existence of a specific profile of alterations in cognitive functioning in female victims of sexual violence with PTSD. A sample of 101 women was divided into three groups (44 sexually abused women with PTSD; 25 sexually abused women without PTSD; 32 non-sexually abused non-PTSD controls). Participants completed questionnaires about psycho-traumatic symptoms, emotion regulation and executive functions. The results show that the PTSD group uses more maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies. In addition, overall executive functions were poorer in the PTSD group. Moreover, sexual assault, exposed with or without PTSD, is associated with deficits in executive functions, particularly inhibition. We also found positive correlations between executive difficulties and the use of non-adaptive emotion regulation strategies. These results suggest that there may be individual differences in the alterations in cognitive functioning following sexual assault.

Social Odour Perception and Stress Responses in Women’s Quality of Partner Relationship and Attachment Style

The perception of body and social odours (SOP) is crucial for interpersonal chemosensory signalling and mate choice, yet little is known about the role of the SOP on the quality of partnerships and the attachment style. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the SOP in women’s stress responses by considering the role of biopsychosocial variables in the quality of interpersonal relationships (also considering intimate partner violence). In total, 253 women filled out an online survey that included a series of questionnaires to investigate self-perceived stress (PSS), emotional regulation (ERQ), olfactory social assessment (SOS), quality of partnership (RRQ), attachment style (RQ), and the Conflict Tactile Scale 2 (CTS-2). The main results highlight that a high awareness of social odours correlates with a good quality of relationship and with an emotional regulation capacity; the PSS correlates negatively with the ERQ (i.e., as the PSS increases, the ERQ decreases). The level of IPV predicts an interpersonal style characterized by a low desire to develop meaningful relationships but with a tendency to depend on and trust another. The idea of being hurt by the other is not central in women who experience this type of relationship. The study’s main conclusion is that social odour perception is important for emotional regulation and in partner relationships.

Women Victims of Intimate Partner Violence and Intimate Partner Homicide: A Typology Based on Victimization Variables

Intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) and intimate partner homicide against women (IPHAW) are multidimensional phenomena. The aim of this study was to identify typologies of Spanish IPHAW and IPVAW victims, based on the differences between their characteristics and the determinants of aggression. The sample consisted of 381 cases from the Spanish Integral Monitoring System in Cases of Gender Violence. The instrument used was a semi-structured interview. Results showed differences between IPHAW and IPVAW victims, and latent class analysis suggested a three-profile solution: 1-fatal victims, with low neuroticism, low isolation, and feelings of loneliness, less reconciliation with the aggressor, lower perception of risk and low suicidal ideation; 2-non-fatal victims, with the loss of a loved one and the role of caregiver as stressors, low psychoticism and alcohol abuse, high feelings of loneliness, risk perception, and suicidal ideation; 3-mixed profile, with high neuroticism and psychoticism, alcohol abuse, isolation, and greater reconciliations with the aggressor, and absence of bereavement and caregiver role as stressors. Knowing the differences between IPHAW and IPVAW victims allows the design of more specific instruments for risk assessment and the design of more individualized prevention and treatment programs. This also facilitates police work in identifying victims and deploying more intense protection measures.

The role of women’s resources in the prediction of intimate partner violence revictimization by the same or different aggressors

The literature studying the characteristics associated with revictimization in Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is heterogeneous and inconclusive. The absence of studies on the role of the emotional variables of the victims and the failure to distinguish revictimization by the same or different aggressors are two of the main limitations in this area of research. The aim of this work was to study the relative contribution of the material, social, and emotional resources available to IPV victims in predicting revictimization by the same or different perpetrators. The sample consisted of 290 women registered in the city of Madrid who had filed at least one police report for intimate partner violence. The material resources of the victims were evaluated through their level of monthly income and employability status, the social resources through perceived social support, and the emotional resources through emotional regulation and coping strategies. Hierarchical multinomial logistic regression models were estimated to predict single-offender victimization (SRV), same-offender revictimization (VSRSA), and multiple-offender revictimization (VSRDA). The results revealed that: (1) differentiating between revictimization by the same and different aggressors improved the fit of the model by 50.8% compared to when only differentiating between victimized and revictimized women; (2) material resources had no significant weight in the prediction of any type of revictimization; (3) SRV women had more social support than VSRDA women (ExpB = 1.027; p &lt; 0.011); (4), those victims who had made several reports to the authorities of violence by different aggressors (VSRDA), had worse emotional regulation than those victims who had made a single report to the authorities (VSRs; ExpB = 2.934; p &lt; 0.026); and (5) VSRDA obtained the worst mental health indexes and they used more coping strategies based on positive reappraisal than the VSR women (ExpB = 0.863; p &lt; 0.009) and those victims with several reports by the same aggressor (VSRSA; ExpB = 0.891; p &lt; 0.028). These results show that being a victim of several episodes of intimate partner violence by different aggressors should be understood as a form of revictimization of great severity associated with worse emotional regulation and less social support.

Hypersexuality as a tip of the iceberg of a primary psychopathology: a joined position statement of the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS) and of the Italian Society of Psychopathology (SOPSI)

In the last years, hypersexual behavior has been broadly scientifically studied. The interest in this topic, belonging to psycho-sexology and sexual medicine, has been due to its still unclear aetiology, nature, and its manifestation in relationship with several organic and psychopathological conditions. So, the specialist (the psychologist, psychiatrist, endocrinologist, neurologist) may encounter some difficulties in diagnosing and managing this symptom. The first main objective of this position statement, which has been developed in collaboration between the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS) and the Italian Society of Psychopathology (SOPSI) is to give to the reader evidence about the necessity to consider hypersexuality as a symptom related to another underlying condition. Following this consideration, the second main objective is to give specific statements, for the biopsychosocial assessment and the diagnosis of hypersexual behavior, developed on the basis of the most recent literature evidence. To develop a psycho-pharmacological treatment tailored on patients' needs, our suggestion is to assess the presence of specific comorbid psychopathological and organic conditions, and the impact of pharmacological treatments on the presence of an excess of sexual behavior. Finally, a suggestion of a standardized psychometric evaluation of hypersexuality will be given.

Emotional dysregulation as trans-nosographic psychopathological dimension in adulthood: A systematic review

Introduction

Emotional dysregulation (ED) is characterized by inappropriate emotional reactions related to environmental or cognitive stimuli. In most recent years, increasing interest has been devoted to its definition and detection across mental disorders for its detrimental role progressively highlighted in both neurodevelopment and adult mental disorders, with implications on the severity of clinical manifestations. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate and gather the scientific evidence about ED in adult psychiatric population to elucidate the concept of ED as trans-nosographic entity.

Methods

The electronics databases PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science was reviewed to identify studies in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines; at the end of the selection process a total of 29 studies (N = 709; N = 658; N = 1,425) was included. All studies included assessed the presence of ED symptoms, by means of a validate scale in adult (>18 years of age), in clinically diagnosed patients as well as healthy control participants.

Results

Our results suggest ED as a trans-diagnostic factor across multiple mental disorders, such as bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, personality disorders; a better definition of this concept could be helpful to interpret and clarify many clinical cases and improve their diagnostic and therapeutic management.

The Relationship between Intimate Partner Violence and Online Help-Seeking: A Moderated Mediation Model of Emotion Dysregulation and Perceived Anonymity

During the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns and isolation have limited the availability of face-to-face support services for victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). Despite the growing need for online help in supporting IPV victims, far less is known about the underlying mechanisms between IPV and online help-seeking. We studied the mediating role of emotion dysregulation (ED) and the moderating role of perceived anonymity (PA) on the internet to explain IPV victims’ willingness of online help-seeking (WOHS). Through a PROCESS analysis of the questionnaire data (n = 510, 318 female, 192 male, M_age = 22.41 years), the results demonstrate that: (1) ED has been linked with the experience of IPV, and IPV significantly induces ED. (2) When IPV victims realize the symptoms of ED, they have a strong willingness to seek external intervention to support themselves. ED mediates the relationship between IPV and online help-seeking. (3) For youth growing up in the era of social networking sites (SNS), personal privacy protection is an important factor when seeking online help. The anonymity of the internet has a positive effect on victims who experience IPV and ED, and it increases WOHS. This study introduces a new perspective on the psychological mechanism behind IPV victims’ help-seeking behaviors, and it suggests that the improvement of anonymity in online support can be an effective strategy for assisting IPV victims.