Introduction: Survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) often experience persistent trauma-related symptoms. A recently proposed theory highlights an overlooked mechanism in the aftermath of abuse: doubt regarding abuse-related appraisals (DARA), referring to survivors' uncertainty about their interpretations of the abuse, their own experiences, and the perpetrator. Such doubt may exacerbate psychological distress and interfere with recovery.
Purpose: This study examined (1) the associations between DARA and trauma-related symptoms following IPV, and (2) whether DARA explains unique variance in trauma-related symptoms beyond established risk factors, including childhood abuse history, degree of IPV exposure, length of the abusive relationship, and current IPV status.
Method: An online survey was conducted with a convenience sample of 378 adult women aged 19-60 years (M = 35.50, SD = 8.64) who reported experiences of IPV. Participants completed self-report measures assessing trauma-related symptoms, DARA, childhood abuse history, and IPV characteristics.
Results: Higher levels of DARA were significantly associated with greater trauma-related symptoms. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that DARA accounted for unique variance in trauma-related symptoms beyond childhood abuse history, degree of IPV exposure, length of the abusive relationship, and IPV status.
Conclusions: The findings provide empirical support for the DARA framework and suggest that doubt regarding abuse-related appraisals plays a meaningful role in post-IPV trauma. Addressing DARA may represent an important clinical target for interventions aimed at reducing trauma-related distress among survivors of IPV.