Coping Self-Efficacy and Depression among Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence in Nyeri County, Kenya

Abstract

Cases of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) are on the increase globally. Scientific evidence exists on the relationship between IPV and mental health. Of the diverse factors influencing the outcome, coping self-efficacy (CSE) may play a role. The current study investigated the relationship between CSE and depression among survivors in Nyeri County, Kenya. Specifically, acts of IPV, the severity of depression, coping mechanisms, levels of coping self-efficacy, the relationship between coping mechanisms and depression, and the relationship between CSE and depression. The sample consisted of 147 survivors of IPV, out of which 117 participants responded to the questionnaires, and 30 of the respondents participated in the focus groups. Men constituted 39.46 % and women 60.54 % of the sample. All the participants were selected from patients seeking services at a GVRC based in Nyeri Provincial General Hospital. Participants were administered a questionnaire comprising tools for screening survivors of IPV, depression, coping mechanisms, and coping self-efficacy. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 and themes gathered from the focus groups. From the study findings, it was established that there existed a statistically significant negative relationship between coping self-efficacy and depression (r =-0.600, p<0.001). More than half of the participants (59%) indicated severe depression, with 9.4% reporting high efficacy in coping with stress emanating from the acts of IPV. The study found out that the sampled survivors of IPV had an experience with sexual, physical, and emotional acts of IPV with an overlap in the experiences. Further, the study found that the survivors used various coping mechanisms to avoid stressful situations. Based on the findings, this study recommended the need for an assessment of survivors' mental health well-being. A focus on CSE might help the survivors protect against mental health issues at the institutions offering services to survivors of IPV.