(PS1-89) Does Negative Problem Orientation Moderate the Association Between Mental Health Conditions and Quality of Life in Intimate Partner Violence Survivors

Abstract Text: Quality of Life (QOL) refers to a person’s subjective perception of their well-being, functioning, and satisfaction in specific areas of life that are important to them (e.g., health, work, friendships). This construct is often assessed among individuals undergoing treatment for mental health conditions that surface following trauma exposure, such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Related research has documented that negative problem orientation (NPO) may also impact QOL. NPO is a belief centering on the perception of problems as unresolvable and threatening. To understand how these post trauma challenges contribute towards reduced QOL among survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV), we examined whether NPO moderated the associations between two mental health conditions (PTSD and depression) and QOL.
Participants included 119 women (Mage= 37.03, SDage= 13.43, range age= 18-67) who had left an abusive relationship. Racial demographics of the sample were reported as White (47.9%), Black (38.7%), Hispanic (5.9%), Asian (1.7%), and other races (5%). Data for PTSD and depression were collected using semi structured interviews, Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 and Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-5 respectively. NPO were assessed using the Negative Problem Orientation subscale from the self-report measure Social Problem Solving Inventory, and QOL scores were from the self-report scale Quality of Life Inventory.
Two sets of multiple regression analyses were run using SPSS v 27; each set included a main effects model and a moderation model to explore whether NPO moderated the association between each mental health condition (PTSD or depression) and QOL. Considering PTSD, the main effects model was statistically significant F(2,116) = 45.66, R2 = .440, p < .001, with PTSD (B = -.02, SE = .01, p = .002) and NPO (B = -.11, SE = .02, p < .001) both showing statistically significant negative associations with QOL. The overall moderation model was statistically significant, F(3,115) = 30.22, R2 = .441, p < .001 with a non-significant interaction effect between PTSD and NPO. Considering depression, the model examining main effects of depression and NPO was statistically significant, F(2,116) = 41.21, R2 = .415, p < .001, and both depression (B = -.16, SE = .08, p = .044) and NPO (B = -.11, SE = .02, p < .001) had statistically significant negative associations with QOL. Although the overall moderation model was statistically significant, F(3,115) = 27.25, R2 = .416, p < .001, there was no significant interaction between NPO and depression.
These findings show that common mental health challenges following trauma exposure (PTSD, depression) and a negative orientation towards problems may negatively impact a survivor’s QOL post trauma. Clinician’s and agencies serving IPV survivors may assist by providing context, psychoeducation, and validation around factors that explain reductions in QOL after leaving an abusive relationship, to prevent misattribution. Further, assessment and treatment of mental health conditions and other interfering beliefs may be valuable in enhancing a survivor’s well-being and functioning post trauma.