Intimate partner violence explained by psychological well-being and intrafamilial relationships

Abstract

Partner violence is a multifaceted problem; it transcends physical aggression, including psychological, economic and sexual elements, which generates dependency, subordination and distortion in the affective nexus. These dysfunctional dynamics perpetuate cycles of abuse, trauma and relapse, making it difficult to break with established and internalized patterns in the psyche of women. In view of the above, the research, with the application of a quantitative methodology, aimed to analyze the predictive impact of psychological well-being and intrafamily relationships on intimate partner violence, specifically in women attended to in help centers in Trujillo, Peru. Among the main findings, it was found that the lower the psychological well-being, the greater the probability and predisposition to intimate partner violence, and that dysfunctional relationships were associated with a higher risk of sexual and domestic violence. In contrast, psychological well-being and healthy intrafamily relationships reduce these risks. It was concluded that intimate partner violence is multicausal, deteriorates the identity of the female victim, and therefore it is necessary to address the roots of the problem and invest in the long term for the consolidation of a future free of violence.