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Violence / Aggression

Exploring the role of shame in the quality of life of intimate partner survivors

(PS12-C74) Exploring the Role of Shame in the Quality of Life of Intimate Partner Survivors

Saturday, November 18, 2023
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM PST
Location: Regency Ballroom, Level 7

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a form of violence that consists of physical, sexual, psychological, and financial abuse, manipulation, and control by a romantic partner (World Health Organization, 2013); IPV can have a profound impact on many aspects of life (e.g., mental health, physical health, relationships). IPV can impact psychological health, with many survivors experiencing high levels of shame;  shame in IPV survivors has been associated with PTSD, revictimization, and interpersonal difficulties. Additionally, shame may influence how individuals interact with others and engage in the world around them and has been negatively associated with quality of life (QOL) in related samples.  The current study extends the available literature by examining the direct and indirect impacts of IPV exposure and shame on QOL.

The sample was comprised of 185 help-seeking women who had experienced IPV; the sample ranged from 18 to 67 in age (Mage = 37.33, SD = 13.07). Participants identified their race as white (54.5%), Black (35.1%), Hispanic (4.7%), Asian (1.0%), and other (4.2%). The Conflict Tactics Scale-2 was used to assess the frequency of IPV exposure, and the Internal Shame Scale was used to examine the intensity of shame. The Quality of Life Inventory was used to measure the overall quality of life.

            A moderation structural equation model was performed via Mplus v8 to examine the direct and indirect relationships between IPV exposure and shame on QOL. Overall, 40.2% of the variance of overall QOL was explained by the current model (estimate = 0.402, SE = 0.056, p < .001). The direct effect of IPV exposure on QOL was not statistically significant (estimate = 0.611, SE = 1.224, p = .617), nor was a significant indirect effect found in the interaction between IPV exposure and shame (estimate = -0.471, SE = 0.743, p = .526). However, a significant negative direct effect of shame on QOL was noted (estimate = -3.819, SE = 1.177, p = .001), such that increased shame is associated with a decrease in overall QOL.

            These findings are consistent with previous studies that have observed a negative association between shame and QOL in trauma-exposed samples.