Relations between the cognitive structure and the intensity of the symptomatology in two battered women’s subgroups. An outline of typologies of battered women

Abstract

The symptoms of a simple sample of women victims of intimate partner violence (n=24) are assessed using the SCL-90-R and the Beck’s Depression and Anxiety Inventories. The cognitive structure is assessed with the repertory grid technique. The variables taken in account were polarization, power, intensity, ambiguity, presence of dilemmas and correlations between self facets. Sample was divided using the clinical cuts points of the symptoms instruments. Results show that women with higher symptomatology got higher values in ambiguity and lower in functionally independent constructs. Women with dilemmas show a higher value in variance explained by first axis and in interpersonal sensibility. Combination of dilemmas and higher symptomatology is the profile with a worse prognosis.