Dawn M. Johnson

Women who have experienced intimate partner violence (W-IPV) exhibit relatively high levels of disordered eating (DE). Empowerment has been demonstrated to be a protective factor against negative mental health outcomes for W-IPV, but has not been studied, with respect to DE, in this population. Race is an important construct to understanding both empowerment and DE – Black women reliably demonstrate higher levels of empowerment and lower levels of weight/shape concerns (a core symptom of and risk factor for DE) than White women. Additionally, social support has been identified as a factor promoting empowerment among W-IPV, whereas posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms have been associated with DE. This study tested the associations among race, social support, empowerment, PTSD symptoms, and weight/shape concerns among W-IPV ( N = 179; 55% Black and 45% White) residing in shelter. Empowerment was negatively correlated with weight/shape concerns for the full sample. Black W-IPV demonstrated higher levels of empowerment and lower levels of weight/shape concerns – there were no race differences on either social support or PTSD symptoms. Additionally, there was a significant indirect effect of race on weight/shape concerns via empowerment and PTSD symptoms, serially. Black W-IPV reported higher levels of empowerment than White W-IPV, which, in turn, was associated with lower levels of PTSD symptoms, which, finally, was associated with lower levels of weight/shape concerns. The current results suggest that empowerment may be protective against weight/shape concerns for W-IPV and may also help explain race differences in this construct. Providers who work with W-IPV should engage in practices that reinforce this culturally relevant protective factor for Black W-IPV. Additionally, future studies should attempt to replicate the current findings using a prospective longitudinal design and, if replicated, researchers should test the application of empowerment-based interventions to weight/shape concerns among W-IPV.

Purpose: This study evaluated the efficacy of an online intervention targeting intimate partner violence (IPV) in perinatal women, S trength for U in R elationship E mpowerment (SURE), relative to an attention, time, and information-matched control, on IPV severity, positive affect and well-being, and perceived emotional support across a 12-month follow-up. Methods: Perinatal women ( N = 122) who reported past 12-month IPV and recently engaged in mental health treatment were randomized to SURE ( n = 65) or control ( n = 57). SURE participants received a 40-minute online intervention based in motivational interviewing and empowerment. Control participants viewed a 40-minute online video of popular entertainment, followed by questions about preferences. Both conditions also included a brief 10-15-minute telephone-delivered booster session one month after the online session. Follow-up assessments occurred at 6 weeks, and 3-, 6-, and 12-months since the baseline visit. Results: Both interventions exhibited a significant drop in IPV severity from baseline to 12-month follow-up, with no significant differences between arms (range of standardized effect sizes for the time by group interaction = 0.20–1.65). Significant intervention effects were found for both positive affect and well-being (range of standardized effect sizes for the time by group interaction = -0.04-1.62) and perceived emotional support (range of standardized effect sizes for the time by group interaction = 0.65–2.10), where participants in SURE exhibited significant increases in both outcomes, while control participants did not. Conclusion: Results suggest that SURE provides a good model for an online intervention for perinatal women who have sought mental health services.

Transgender (trans) women are disproportionately impacted by adverse health outcomes compared to their cisgender counterparts, including mental health challenges, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, and intimate partner violence (IPV). In response, we developed the Supporting Trans women, Affirmation, Relationships, and Sex (STARS) program-a peer-delivered intervention that aims to promote gender affirmation, empowerment, and HIV prevention for trans women who have experienced IPV. STARS comprises four ∼1-hr individual peer-counseling sessions delivered over 6 weeks focused on safety planning, resource referrals, and HIV prevention. We used a convergent, mixed methods, randomized controlled trial design to evaluate the program's feasibility, acceptability, and explore preliminary efficacy. Thirty-seven participants were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 19) or a time- and attention-matched control (n = 18) and completed assessments at baseline, postintervention, and 4- and 6-month follow-up. Findings demonstrate high intervention satisfaction (M = 3.29, SD = 0.48, range [1-4]) and low attrition (5.26% at 6-month follow-up). Thematic analysis of exit interviews revealed strong qualitative endorsements of resource referrals, self-empowerment content, and peer counselor relationships. Findings from exploratory intent-to-treat analyses showed greater improvements in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (β = -.28; p = .019), depressive symptoms (β = -0.23; p = .037), and empowerment related to IPV safety (β = .23; p = .02) in the intervention compared to control. There were no between-group differences in instances of IPV (p = .45) or general self-efficacy (ps ≥ .39). HIV-vulnerable condomless anal sex was infrequent and insufficient to support a stable model estimation. These results provide initial empirical support for STARS as an effective intervention to improve mental health and self-empowerment outcomes among transfeminine individuals who have experienced IPV. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

The present study presents a longitudinal examination of the impact of cyber abuse (CA) on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity among a racially diverse sample of women with intimate partner violence (IPV). Using data collected from a completed randomized control trial with women who sought safety in a domestic violence shelter (W-DVS; N = 172), we conducted a secondary data analysis. Participants completed measures of CA, PTSD severity, and other types of IPV at each time point. To examine predictors of the latent change factor, we estimated the influence of CA on each latent change factor while controlling for other (i.e., noncyber abuse) types of IPV and treatment condition across time. Initial results suggested that CA has a negative impact on PTSD severity over time for W-DVS, as CA predicted changes in PTSD severity across five time points when controlling for treatment condition and PTSD symptom severity at the previous time points. However, CA did not predict a change in symptom severity when controlling for other forms of (noncyber abuse) IPV. Although more CA is associated with more severe PTSD symptoms from the time women are in shelter to postshelter, 3, 9, and 15 months postshelter, this is no longer the case when overall IPV is considered. This study extends our understanding of how CA can exacerbate psychological health consequences, including PTSD severity, of W-DVS, suggesting that cyber abuse should be assessed in tandem with other IPV types rather than as a separate phenomenon. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Little is known about how the interrelationships among posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms change throughout the treatment. We examined changes in PTSD symptoms among women who experienced intimate partner violence and received one of two evidence-based interventions. We conducted a secondary analysis of a completed randomized, double-blind clinical trial, which demonstrated efficacy in reducing PTSD symptoms. We used cross-lagged panel network analysis to identify the influential PTSD symptoms among women who had completed either the Helping to Overcome PTSD through Empowerment or an adapted version of person-centered therapy. We examined if a symptom's expected influence, a metric of interconnectedness, would predict overall PTSD symptom reductions at baseline, postshelter, posttreatment, and 6- and 12-months posttreatment. Women who showed more significant decreases in feeling upset and avoidance also demonstrated greater decreases in their overall PTSD symptoms at postshelter, posttreatment, and 6 and 12 months posttreatment. Findings indicate that changes in symptoms with high centrality result in larger PTSD network changes observed at both adjacent and future time points. Identifying and targeting symptoms with influential associations produce therapeutic cascades, resulting in symptom reductions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

The current study is a randomized controlled trial comparing HOPE (Helping to Overcome PTSD through Empowerment) to an adapted version of present-centered therapy (PCT+) in residents of domestic violence shelters with posttraumatic stress disorder from intimate partner violence. HOPE is a cognitive-behavioral treatment that adopts an empowerment approach. PCT is an attention-matched control condition frequently used in posttraumatic stress disorder treatment research. PCT+ was adapted to include safety planning. We collected data from 172 women from one of six shelters, randomizing participants to receive either HOPE or PCT+. Participants in both treatments received up to 16 sessions during shelter and the first 3 months post-shelter. Follow-up assessments occurred at post-shelter, post-treatment, and 6- and 12-months post-treatment. Results of multivariate models found that both HOPE and PCT+ were associated with significant and large reductions in intimate partner violence–related posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Further, both treatments resulted in significant small to medium effects on intimate partner violence, depression, empowerment, posttraumatic cognitions, and health-related quality of life. Results suggest that both HOPE and PCT+ are viable and efficacious treatments of intimate partner violence–related posttraumatic stress disorder in women residing in shelters. As PCT+ has the potential to be delivered by paraprofessionals and individuals without mental health expertise, PCT+ may be the preferred treatment model for shelters. Additional online materials for this article are available on PWQ’s website at http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/suppl/10.1177/0361684320953120