Effects of spousal abuse on the psychological well-being of his partner and evaluation of marital satisfaction and adjustment

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of spousal abuse on the psychological well-being, evaluation of marital adjustment and satisfaction of abused women. The sample consisted of 30 women who applied to the Si~li Metropolitan Municipality Shelter to escape from spousal. abuse. The measurement instruments were the Dyadic Adjustment- Scale, a structured interview, the Coopersmith Inventory, the Semantic Differential Scale and Symptom Check List-Revised. It was hypothesized that women who suffer verbal, physical and sexual abuse, compared to women who suffer only verbal and physical abuse, have more significant psychological disturbances. Also, women who experience verbal, physical and sexual abuse, compared to women who suffer from verbal and physical abuse, were hypothesized to have lower dyadic adjustment. Finally, it was also hypothesized that women who have worse economic conditions compared to the ones who have better conditions give a lower evaluation of their marriages. The findings revealed that type of abuse was a partially significant factor affecting women's psychological well-being and it was a significant factor affecting women's marital adjustment. Economic conditions of the women were found to be a significant factor on their marital satisfaction.