Text

theses

This dissertation examined the impact of economic abuse and the mediating role of economic self-efficacy on depressive symptoms among survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). The primary research question aimed to examine the associations between economic abuse experiences and depressive symptoms from a cross-sectional and longitudinal viewpoint, among a sample of 457 female survivors of IPV, recruited from 14 domestic violence programs, across 10 states and Puerto Rico. The secondary research question aimed to examine the mediating role of economic self-efficacy in the relationship between economic abuse and depressive symptoms. This dissertation theorized that higher levels of economic abuse experiences would relate to increased levels of depressive symptoms. Stress theory (Thoits, 2010) was utilized to provide a framework for understanding the way the stress of economic abuse and the accumulated life strain, which occurred from financial dependence on an abuser, might converge to produce high levels of stress and depression for survivors of IPV. Furthermore, this dissertation theorized that economic self-efficacy would mediate the relationship between economic abuse experiences and depressive symptoms. The concept of self-efficacy evolved from social learning theory (Bandura, 1994, 1997, 2008) and examined how the survivor’s perceived economic competence, during or following the economic abuse experiences, provided a specific mediating construction in the development of depressive symptoms. The findings revealed that, from a cross-sectional perspective, higher levels of economic abuse experiences related to higher levels of depressive symptoms; however, this relationship was not mediated by economic self-efficacy. Furthermore, from a longitudinal, 14-month perspective, there was no significant impact of the change in economic abuse experiences on the change in depressive symptoms. In examining the impact of economic abuse on depressive symptoms among survivors of IPV, this study added to the knowledge base of the social sciences, furthered understanding of the impact of economic abuse and the possible mediating impact of economic self-efficacy, and provided critical information that the field of IPV could utilize in developing programs and policies to support survivors.

ETD_6919

Ph.D.

Includes bibliographical references

by Amanda Mathisen Stylianou

doi:10.7282/T3NG4SQ8

ETD doctoral

The author owns the copyright to this work.