Exploring of post-traumatic growth in women exposed to partner violence in the context of psychodynamic personality organizations, interpersonal emotion regulation and perceived general stress

The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between posttraumatic growth of women who were subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by their partners at any period of their lives and perceived general stress level, intensity of violence being exposed, interpersonal emotion regulation and psychodynamic neurotic personality organization. A total of 146 women participated in the present study. The data were collected from the participants through a questionnaire consisting of Demographic Information Form, Violence Against Women Rating Scale, Personality Organizations Inventory, Posttraumatic Growth Scale, Perceived Stress Level Scale and Interpersonal Emotion Regulation Scale. The research data were analyzed using correlation, multiple linear regression analysis and independent groups t-test. The findings revealed that only perceived stress level and interpersonal emotion regulation skills significantly predicted posttraumatic growth. Moreover, the results yielded there was a significant negative relationship between posttraumatic growth and identity diffusion. Furthermore, it was found that the degree of violence being exposed to, perceived general stress level and interpersonal emotion regulation scores of the participants with borderline personality organization, were significantly higher than those of the neurotic ones. No statistically significant difference was found between these two groups in terms of posttraumatic growth. The obtained results were discussed within the framework of the literature research.