Effects of Emotional Regulation Strategies on the Relations of Spousal Abuse, Depression and Physical Symptoms

Abstract

The emotional and physical problems can arise from spousal abuse. The purposes of this study were to investigate the influence of spousal abuse on depression and physical symptoms and to examine direct and indirect effects of functional and dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies to depression and physical symptoms. The participants were 232 adults. The Korea version of the Index of Spouse Abuse (K-ISA), Regulation of Emotions Questionnaire (REQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Physical Symptoms Scale were administered to participants. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with AMOS was used for the purpose of analysis. The results showed that physical and psychological abuse and controlling behavior were associated with severity of depression and physical symptoms and the functional emotion regulation strategies had the direct and indirect effects on depression and physical symptoms of those who experience spousal abuse. These results might contribute to development of psychological intervention program for those who have experienced spousal abuse. Finally, the limitations and implications of the current study were discussed.