Viver com o agressor e viver em casa-abrigo : diferenças psicológicas e fisiológicas em mulheres vítimas de violência nas relações de intimidade
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2015
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Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar mulheres sinalizadas por violência nas relações de intimidade (VRI), utilizando uma medida de cortisol salivar, e medidas de auto-relato de sintomatologia psicopatológica, perturbação de stress pós-traumático (PTSD) e perceção de apoio social, comparando mulheres a viver com o companheiro e mulheres a viver em casa-abrigo. A amostra foi constituída por 160 mulheres vítimas de VRI sendo que 81 mulheres estavam a viver em casa-abrigo e 79 mulheres a viver com o agressor. A avaliação dos níveis de cortisol foi feita através do método salivar, que consistiu numa amostra de saliva recolhida ao acordar e outra recolha 30 minutos depois. Os resultados demonstraram que 153 (94.3%) das mulheres pontuam valores clínicos para sintomatologia psicopatológica (PSI > 1.7), 116 (72.5%) preencheram os critérios de PTSD. Relativamente aos resultados de cortisol, verificou-se que em 60 (39.7%) mulheres o cortisol diminuiu entre a primeira e segunda colheita, 5 (3.3%) mulheres apresentaram os mesmos níveis de cortisol, e em 86 (57%) mulheres o cortisol aumentou após a primeira recolha. De acordo com estes resultados de cortisol, foi possível caracterizar dois grupos distintos de mulheres, designadamente o grupo em que o cortisol diminuiu após o acordar e o grupo em que o cortisol aumentou. Na descrição e comparação do cortisol com outras variáveis, verificaram-se diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre dois grupos de cortisol ao nível da psicopatologia, t(148) = 2.833, p = .005, CI [0.10, 0.56], d = 0.47. O grupo com diminuição do cortisol apresentou mais sintomas psicopatológicos (M = 1.72, DP = 0.73) do que o grupo com o aumento do cortisol (M = 1.39, DP = 0.68). Verificaram-se diferenças marginalmente significativas entre cortisol e sintomas de PTSD, t(147) = 1.871, p = .06, CI [-0.22, 7.99], d = 0.31. O grupo decrescente apresentou níveis mais elevados de sintomas de PTSD (M = 53.62, DP = 13.04) do que o grupo crescente (M = 49.73, DP = 12.14). Foram ainda encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre cortisol e perceção total de apoio social, t(149) = -1.999, p = .047, CI [-7.24, -0.04], d = 0.33. O grupo em que diminuiu o cortisol apresentou menos perceção do apoio social (M = 65.05, DP = 11.81) do que o grupo em que aumentou o cortisol (M = 68.69, DP = 10.49). Por fim, na comparação entre mulheres a residirem em casa-abrigo e mulheres a viverem com companheiro, os resultados, no geral, parecem apontar para os efeitos positivos que as casas-abrigo têm no funcionamento social, psicológico e fisiológico de mulheres vítimas de VRI. Em conclusão, este estudo sugere que os resultados inconsistentes, obtidos em estudos anteriores, que usaram medidas de cortisol em mulheres vítimas de violência nas relações de intimidade, devem-se provavelmente às diferentes respostas fisiológicas que estas mulheres apresentam face à adversidade. De facto, foi possível verificar dois perfis muito distintos, desde a diminuição de cortisol após o acordar e o aumento da resposta de cortisol. Para além disso, este estudo também apresentou, do ponto de vista empírico, os efeitos positivos que as casas-abrigo têm em mulheres vítimas, sugerindo-se assim a manutenção e continuidade de investimento nestas, entre outras, medidas de proteção à mulher vítima.
This study aimed to evaluate women victims of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) using a salivary cortisol measurement, and self-report measures of psychopathological symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and perception of social support, comparing women living with the aggressor and women living at shelter homes. The sample consisted of 160 women victims of IPV, 81 women living in shelters and 79 women living with the aggressor. The cortisol was collected through the salivary method, which consisted of a saliva sample taken immediately upon waking and another 30 minutes after the first collection. The results showed that 153 (94.3%) women score clinical values for psychopathology symptoms (PSI > 1.7) and 116 (72.5%) met the criteria for PTSD. For cortisol results, its were found that 60 (39.7%) women the cortisol decreased between the first and second collection, 5 (3.3%) women had similar levels of cortisol, and 86 (57%) women cortisol increased after the first collection. According to these cortisol results, it was possible to characterize two distinct groups of women, namely the group where cortisol decreased after waking up and the group in which the cortisol increased. In the description and comparison of cortisol with other variables, there were statistically significant differences between the two cortisol groups regarding the level of psychopathology, t(148) = 2.833, p = .005, CI [0.10, 00.56], d = 0.47. The group decreased cortisol showed more psychopathological symptoms (M = 1.72, SD = 0.73) than the group with the increase of cortisol (M = 1.39, SD = 0.68). There were marginally significant differences between cortisol and PTSD symptoms, t(147) = 1.871, p = .06, CI [-0.22, 7.99], d = 0.31. The decreasing group had higher levels of PTSD symptoms (M = 53.62, SD = 4.13) than the increased group (M = 49.73, SD = 12.14). There were also statistically significant differences between cortisol and overall perception of social support, t(149) = -1.999, p = .047 ,CI [ -7.24, -0.04 ], d = 0.33. The group with the cortisol decreased presented less social support perception (M = 65.05, SD = 11.81) compared to the increased cortisol group (M = 68.69, SD = 10.49). Finally, when comparing women living in shelters and women living with the aggressor, the overall results showed positive effects that shelters have in social, psychological and physiological of women victims of IPV. In conclusion, this study suggests that the inconsistent results obtained in previous studies, that used cortisol measures for women victims of IPV, are probably due to different physiological responses that these women have when facing adversity. In fact, we found two different profiles, from the decreasing of cortisol after waking and increased cortisol response. Furthermore, this study also showed, from an empirical point of view, the positive effects that the shelters have women victims of IPV, suggesting thus the maintenance and continuity of investment in these measures to protect the victims, among others.
This study aimed to evaluate women victims of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) using a salivary cortisol measurement, and self-report measures of psychopathological symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and perception of social support, comparing women living with the aggressor and women living at shelter homes. The sample consisted of 160 women victims of IPV, 81 women living in shelters and 79 women living with the aggressor. The cortisol was collected through the salivary method, which consisted of a saliva sample taken immediately upon waking and another 30 minutes after the first collection. The results showed that 153 (94.3%) women score clinical values for psychopathology symptoms (PSI > 1.7) and 116 (72.5%) met the criteria for PTSD. For cortisol results, its were found that 60 (39.7%) women the cortisol decreased between the first and second collection, 5 (3.3%) women had similar levels of cortisol, and 86 (57%) women cortisol increased after the first collection. According to these cortisol results, it was possible to characterize two distinct groups of women, namely the group where cortisol decreased after waking up and the group in which the cortisol increased. In the description and comparison of cortisol with other variables, there were statistically significant differences between the two cortisol groups regarding the level of psychopathology, t(148) = 2.833, p = .005, CI [0.10, 00.56], d = 0.47. The group decreased cortisol showed more psychopathological symptoms (M = 1.72, SD = 0.73) than the group with the increase of cortisol (M = 1.39, SD = 0.68). There were marginally significant differences between cortisol and PTSD symptoms, t(147) = 1.871, p = .06, CI [-0.22, 7.99], d = 0.31. The decreasing group had higher levels of PTSD symptoms (M = 53.62, SD = 4.13) than the increased group (M = 49.73, SD = 12.14). There were also statistically significant differences between cortisol and overall perception of social support, t(149) = -1.999, p = .047 ,CI [ -7.24, -0.04 ], d = 0.33. The group with the cortisol decreased presented less social support perception (M = 65.05, SD = 11.81) compared to the increased cortisol group (M = 68.69, SD = 10.49). Finally, when comparing women living in shelters and women living with the aggressor, the overall results showed positive effects that shelters have in social, psychological and physiological of women victims of IPV. In conclusion, this study suggests that the inconsistent results obtained in previous studies, that used cortisol measures for women victims of IPV, are probably due to different physiological responses that these women have when facing adversity. In fact, we found two different profiles, from the decreasing of cortisol after waking and increased cortisol response. Furthermore, this study also showed, from an empirical point of view, the positive effects that the shelters have women victims of IPV, suggesting thus the maintenance and continuity of investment in these measures to protect the victims, among others.
Descrição
Orientação: Inês Jongenelen ; co-orientação: Ricardo Pinto
Palavras-chave
MESTRADO EM PSICOLOGIA CLÍNICA E DA SAÚDE, PSICOLOGIA, PSYCHOLOGY, VIOLÊNCIA NAS RELAÇÕES DE INTIMIDADE, INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, INTIMIDADE, INTIMACY, PSICOPATOLOGIA, PSYCHOPATHOLOGY, APOIO SOCIAL, SOCIAL SUPPORT, PERTURBAÇÃO DE STRESS PÓS-TRAUMÁTICO, POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER