A Study on Battered Woman Syndrome among Sri Lankan Women Victims of Domestic Violence

Abstract

Domestic violence is a grave crime committed against women across the entire world. By present times, domestic violence has become a commonly reported crime within Sri Lanka. Women subjected to this violence face immense physical, mental, and social distress. Battered Woman Syndrome is defined as the collection of physical, mental, and behavioral responses exhibited by such women.

The primary objective of this research was to study whether Battered Woman Syndrome exists among Sri Lankan women who are victims of domestic violence. Secondary objectives included identifying the correlation between Battered Woman Syndrome and the occurrence of other mental illnesses, as well as studying the variations in its impact. Data was collected by administering a questionnaire containing characteristics of Battered Woman Syndrome to a sample of 15 women aged between 18 and 45 who were victims of domestic violence. The data was then analyzed quantitatively.

The research results revealed that at least one physical, mental, or behavioral characteristic belonging to Battered Woman Syndrome was observed in the victims of domestic violence. Furthermore, it was found that mental and behavioral characteristics showed a statistically higher value compared to physical characteristics. The study further revealed that Battered Woman Syndrome exists at an intense level among the participants and that there is a high positive correlation between the syndrome and the occurrence and symptoms of other mental illnesses. The research confirmed that implementing counseling and psychotherapy programs to uplift the mental health of women subjected to domestic violence, and referring them to such programs, is a necessary factor. It is suggested that future research should study whether battered person symptoms exist among men subjected to violence in society and investigate the correlation regarding the impact of such syndromes.