Comparison of Life Expectancy and Psychological Flexibility in Women With and Without Domestic Violence Experience

Violence against women, particularly intimate partner violence, is a global issue and a violation of women's human rights. The aim of this study was to compare levels of hope and psychological flexibility in women with and without experiences of domestic violence. This research employed a causal-comparative design. The statistical population included all women in Ardabil County who had experienced domestic violence by their spouse, as well as women who had not reported any such violence. From this population, a convenience sample of 100 participants (50 in each group) was selected. Participants were assessed using Snyder’s Hope Scale (2000) and the Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire by Dennis and Vander Wal (2010). Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA and MANOVA) via SPSS version 20. The findings revealed a significant difference in components of hope and psychological flexibility between women who had experienced domestic violence and those who had not (P = 0.01). These results suggest that to reduce the prevalence of domestic violence and manage the associated physical, psychological, and social consequences, preventive measures can be implemented through the assessment of psychological constructs such as hope and psychological flexibility, and by identifying women at risk of violence. Beyond the implications for prevention, these findings also offer important insights for psychopathology, therapeutic interventions, and clinical strategies concerning women who are victims of violence.