“I Betrayed Myself”: A Mixed Methods Study of Moral Injury Among Survivors of Intimate Partner Sexual Violence

Abstract

This study examined moral injury (MI) among women survivors (N = 142) of intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV). IPSV was significantly associated with shame-related moral injury, trust-violation-related moral injury, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Results revealed significant indirect effects of IPSV on PTSD via shame-related moral injury and trust-violation-related moral injury. Reflexive thematic analysis of open-ended responses identified three key themes: (a) Self-Betrayal, (b) Self-Blame, and (c) Other-Betrayal. Our findings indicate that moral injury may serve as an important mechanism linking IPSV to PTSD among IPSV survivors.

Keywords

moral injury intimate partner violence domestic violence sexual violence posttraumatic stress disorder

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