Psychological Resilience in Women Facing Domestic Abuse

Abstract

Psychological resilience—the dynamic process through which individuals “bounce back” from adversity—serves as a critical buffer against the deleterious effects of domestic abuse. In this study, we surveyed 250 women aged 18–65 who had experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) within the past five years, recruited from both urban and rural communities. Building on the Resilience Scale for Adults, Brief COPE, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and bespoke indices of resource access and stigma perception, we examined how intrapersonal strengths, interpersonal connections, and structural resources jointly shape resilience trajectories. Our enhanced analysis reveals that adaptive cognitive and behavioral coping explain nearly one‑third of resilience variance, while perceived social support and concrete resource access account for an additional 18%.

Notably, stigma perception exerts a uniquely detrimental effect, eroding resilience even among women with robust coping skills and support networks. These findings underscore the need for multimodal interventions that cultivate self‑efficacy, foster peer and family support, and dismantle systemic barriers. Integrating trauma‑informed counseling, legal advocacy, and community education emerges as a promising framework for empowering survivors. By delineating the complex interplay of risk and protective factors, this research lays the groundwork for targeted policies and programs aimed at promoting long‑term recovery and well‑being among women facing domestic abuse.