Assessing the Psychological Health of the Battered Women at Babylon Governorate
Assessing Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Battered Women in Babylon Governorate, Iraq: A Descriptive Correlational Study
Downloads
Background: Domestic violence has significant psychological consequences for women, with limited research available on the mental health effects faced by battered women in the Babylon Governorate, Iraq. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of depression, anxiety, stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among battered women in the Babylon Governorate and to examine the relationship between these psychological conditions and demographic factors.
Methods: A descriptive correlational study in Al-Hilla City, Iraq, involved 180 battered women seeking healthcare services. Participants were selected through a non-probability (convenience) sampling method. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and the analysis involved descriptive and inferential statistics, including correlation analyses.
Results: The study revealed that 48.9% of the participants experienced moderate psychological violence, 38.9% reported low physical violence, and 48.9% experienced moderate sexual violence. Severe levels of depression and stress were noted in 49.4% and 55.6% of the participants, respectively, with 55.0% experiencing moderate anxiety. PTSD was predominantly mild, with 73.4% of the participants showing low levels. A significant positive correlation was found between domestic violence and psychological health issues (P = 0.033). Significant relationships were also identified between domestic violence and demographic factors, such as education, marital status, cohabitation, occupation, and economic dependence (P ≤ 0.05), except for age and residency.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the growing prevalence of domestic violence and its severe psychological impact on women in the Babylon Governorate, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts to provide rehabilitation and empowerment services.
Downloads
Al-Hayani, S. Y. A. (2022). Confronting the Crimes of domestic violence against women (Study in the Act of Combating Domestic Violence in Kurdistan Region-Iraq). Journal of Scientific Development for Studies and Research (JSD), 3(11), 172-184. doi:10.61212/jsd/83 [doi].
Al Juboori, R. (2023). Socio-ecological determinants of attitudes towards domestic violence among Iraqi women: Where are the most vulnerable? Preprints, doi:
20944/preprints202310.1037.v1 [doi].
Amiri, M., Rahmani, J., & Saadatmand, Z. (2023). Studying the Social Health of Students with an Emphasis on Curriculum Planning. iase-idje, 6(2), 168-175. doi:10.61186/ijes.6.2.168 [doi].
Assaf, S., & Chaban, S. (2013). Domestic violence against single, never-married women in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Violence.Against.Women., 19(3), 422-441. doi:1077801213486330 [pii];10.1177/1077801213486330 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:23637313
Baidoo, L., Zakrison, T. L., Feldmeth, G., Lindau, S. T., & Tung, E. L. (2021). Domestic Violence Police Reporting and Resources During the 2020 COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Order in Chicago, Illinois. JAMA Netw.Open, 4(9), e2122260. doi:2783683 [pii];zoi210661 [pii];10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.22260 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:34473260
Barth, R. P., & Jiranek, H. C. (2023). Strengthening Relationships between Couples to Respond to Domestic Violence: a Commentary on Policy Changes Needed to Support this Evolution. J Fam Viol, 38(4), 761-774. doi:10.1007/s10896-022-00413-6 [doi].
Bayat, B., Tavakoli, B. A.-H., & Ghanadibaradaran, N. (2022). The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral stress management in improving rumination and psychological distress in women experiencing marital infidelity. Journal of Applied Family Therapy, 3(1), 207-222. doi: 10.22034/AFTJ.2022.265367.1048 [doi].
Bolsoy, N., & Sen, S. (2020). Correlation between domestic violence and family planning attitude among migrant women in Turkey. International STD Research & Reviews, 9(2), 43-51. doi: 10.9734/ISRR/2020/v9i230113 [doi].
Cheek, N. N., Bandt-Law, B., & Sinclair, S. (2023). People believe sexual harassment and domestic violence are less harmful for women in poverty. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 107, 104472. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2023.104472 [doi].
Danis, F. S. (2003). Social work response to domestic violence: encouraging news from a new look. Affilia, 18(2), 177-191. doi:1177/0886109903018002007 [doi].
Johnson, D. M., Delahanty, D. L., & Pinna, K. (2008). The cortisol awakening response as a function of PTSD severity and abuse chronicity in sheltered battered women. J Anxiety.Disord, 22(5), 793-800. doi:S0887-6185(07)00164-8 [pii];10.1016/j.janxdis.2007.08.006 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:17890049
Johnson, D. M., & Zlotnick, C. (2009). HOPE for battered women with PTSD in domestic violence shelters. Prof.Psychol Res Pr, 40(3), 234-241. doi:10.1037/a0012519 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:20179780
Kadhim, N. S., & Shreef, N. S. (2024). Effect of domestic violence on children: A review. International Journal of Education and Social Science Research, 7(2), 239-247. doi:10.37500/ijessr.2024.7216 [doi].
Khodavirdipour, A., & Samadi, M. (2022). Pandemic consequences: An increase in divorce rate, domestic violence, and extramarital affairs at the time of COVID-19 pandemic: A sad Persian story. Front.Public Health, 10, 1100149. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.1100149 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:36582376
Kobrlo, A. M. (2024). Domestic Violence in iraqi society between acceptance and rejection in the media. Route Education and Social Science Journal, 86, 35-57. doi:10.17121/ressjournal.3551 [doi].
Maimon-Blau, I. (2024). Medicolegal aspects of domestic violence against children. Dent Traumatol, 40 Suppl 2, 18-22. doi:10.1111/edt.12899 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:37874865
Maleka, D., & Almnaseer, A. (2021). Domestic Violence in Iraq: A Critical discourse analysis of passivization and gender inequality. Lark, 1, 1052-1037. doi:10.31185/lark.vol1.iss44.2059 [doi].
Mechanic, M. B., Weaver, T. L., & Resick, P. A. (2008). Mental health consequences of intimate partner abuse: a multidimensional assessment of four different forms of abuse. Violence Against.Women., 14 (6), 634-654. doi:14/6/634 [pii];10.1177/1077801208319283 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:18535306
Saeed, H. R., Ali, B. M., & AL-Diwan, J. (2021). Domestic violence among pregnant
women in BaghdadIraq 2018. Journal of the Faculty of Medicine Baghdad, 63(1), 31-35. doi:10.32007/jfacmedbagdad.6311725 [doi].
Salimi, H., & Sodani, M. (2023). The effectiveness of solution-focused brief couple therapy on increasing couples' marital self-regulation and emotional distress tolerance. Research in Clinical Psychology and Counseling, 13(1), 5-24. doi:10.22067/TPCCP.2023.76695.1287 [doi].
Sharhabani-Arzy, R., Amir, M., Kotler, M., & Liran, R. (2003). The Toll of domestic violence: PTSD among battered women in an Israeli sample. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 18(11), 1335-1346. doi:10.1177/0886260503256842 [doi].
Sherman, M. D., Sautter, F., Jackson, M. H., Lyons, J. A., & Han, X. (2006). Domestic violence in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder who seek couples therapy. J Marital.Fam Ther, 32(4), 479-490. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2006.tb01622.x [doi]. Retrieved from PM:17120520
Suzan, N. S. (2022). A Literature Review on Domestic Violence Expressed from Gender Perspective. Qalaai Zanist Journal, 7 (1), 842-861. doi:10.25212/lfu.qzj.7.1.32 [doi].
Tayeb, J. (2004). Rates of domestic violence in southern Iraq. JAMA, 292(5), 565-566. doi:292/5/565 [pii];10.1001/jama.292.5.565-a [doi]. Retrieved from PM:15292079
Taylor, P., Keeling, J., & Mottershead, R. (2019). Intimate partner violence and abuse against men: Voices of victimization among ex-servicemen of the British Armed Forces. Illness, Crisis, & Loss, 27(2), 119-142. doi:10.1177/1054137317717964 [doi].
Van Winkle, E. P., & Safer, M. A. (2011). Killing versus witnessing in combat trauma and reports of PTSD symptoms and domestic violence. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 24(1), 107-110. doi:10.1002/jts.20614 [doi].
Weli, E. M., & Salman Abubaker, S. (2023). The legal confrontation of domestic violence: A comparative study between Iraq and Italy. Lectio Socialis, 7(1), 13-22. doi:10.47478/lectio.1186301 [doi]
Copyright (c) 2024 International Journal of Body, Mind and Culture
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
