Violence in Intimate Relationships: Symptomatology and Motivation for Change

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the experiences of victims of violence in intimate relationships (VIRs) who remain in, return to, or abandon the abusive relationship, as well as examine the type of violence suffered, the existing symptoms, and the motivation to change as explained by the Transtheoretical Model of Change. Method: The participants were 38 victims, three males and 35 females, who completed an online questionnaire comprising a section on sociodemographic data, and three instruments, the Self-Reporting Questionnaire 20 (SRQ-20), Marital Violence Inventory (MVI), and the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA). Results: Data analysis has shown that psychological violence was the type of violence most frequently experienced followed by physical and verbal violence, the house of the victims was the local where the violence mostly took place, the help-seeking behaviors were mostly directed to the family and attempts to leave from the abusive relationship is related to the experience of family violence in childhood. Participants were all in the action stage of the change, but aggressor's expectation/promise to change, the existence of children and maintaining the family or marriage, as well as economic difficulties are the main factors that contribute to both remaining in, or returning to, the abusive relationship. Conclusion: We will reflect on the social, clinical, and legal implications for the future of research with victims of VIR.