Stress Management and Health Promotion in a Sample of Women With Intimate Partner Violence: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of a stress management program regarding mitigating psychological repercussions in women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV). This randomized controlled trial took place from January 2015 to June 2015, in Attica, Greece. A total of 60 women were randomly assigned into an intervention and control group, with the intervention group ( n = 30) receiving stress management and a lifestyle program. Self-reported measures were used to assess stress, depression and anxiety levels, daily routine, severity of abuse, self-esteem, health locus of control, and self-efficacy. Statistical analysis showed a significant improvement in measures of stress, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and self-efficacy in the intervention group. Daily routine and physical exercise also improved. Based on these findings, we strongly encourage health professionals to advise women experiencing current and past IPV to adopt stress management techniques to their daily program, as a further means of empowerment.