(PS14-31) Impairment in Different Domains of Quality of Life and Their Associations with DSM 5 PTSD Symptom Clusters in Survivor of Intimate Partner Violence

Experiencing abuse within a romantic relationship has been associated with symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as reduced quality of life (QOL). Past research has demonstrated that individual PTSD symptom clusters are uniquely associated with reductions in specific spheres of QOL. For example, DSM-IV avoidance and numbing symptoms have been shown to predict low achievement satisfaction and numbing predicted reduced QOL in the relationship domain. This study aimed to test the associations between DSM-V symptom clusters of PTSD, controlling for income, with four domains of QOL (achievement, self-expression, relationships, and surroundings) in women who experienced Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).

The sample included 146 women (M_age = 37.71, SD_age = 13.6), who sought help at a mental health research clinic following IPV and had left the abusive relationship. The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-V was used to assess for PTSD symptom clusters, annual income was assessed using self-report, and each domain of QOL was assessed using the self-report Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI).

SPSS was used to run four separate hierarchical regression analyses, with each domain of QOL as the dependent variable. In each analysis, annual income was entered as a control variable in the first block, considering its potential impact on QOL. All four PTSD symptom clusters were entered as independent variables in the second block.

The models predicting achievement, self-expression, and relationships had non-significant overall model results in the first model, but revealed statistically significant overall model results when PTSD symptom clusters were added (all p’s < 0.05) in the second model. The overall model predicting QOL in the achievement domain (R²= .28) revealed statistically significant negative associations with symptoms of reexperiencing (β = -.30, p = .007) and negative alterations in cognition and mood (β = -.32, p < .003). The model predicting QOL in the self-expression domain (R²= .21) also showed statistically significant negative associations with symptoms of negative alterations in cognition and mood (β = -.35, p = .002). Regarding the model predicting QOL in the relationships domain (R²= .23), reexperiencing (β = -.22, p = .05) and negative alternations in cognition and mood (β = -.28, p = .013) were statistically significant. In the analysis predicting QOL in the surroundings domain, the first overall model was statistically significant (R²= .04, p = .03), with 1 unit increase in annual income predicting a statistically significant .20 units increase in QOL in terms of surroundings (β = .20, p = .03). The second model with the addition of the four PTSD symptom clusters was non-significant (p = .086).  

Findings suggest that the negative cognitions and mood symptoms of PTSD are associated with low perceived QOL in achievement, relationships, and self-expression domains. Reexperiencing symptoms also appear to have an impact on relationship-related QOL. Surprisingly, income was only associated with low QOL concerning one’s environment. These findings illuminate the radiating impact of PTSD symptoms and have implications for clinical services.