Factors Predicting Relationship Satisfaction, Investment, and Commitment When Women Report High Prevalence of Psychological Abuse

Relationship satisfaction, investment, and commitment in women experiencing extensive psychological abuse were examined to
determine predictive factors. Participants were the top quartile of a national sample of women in conflictual relationships
(N = 81) experiencing psychological maltreatment. Relationship satisfaction, investment, and commitment were each used as criterion
variables with conceptually related factors as the predictors (e.g., reactions to the psychological abuse; mental health indicators;
personality variables; perceived harm; problematic relationship schemas; response styles; demographics). These relationship
markers were differentially predicted within this group of women. Three independent clusters of women, based on patterns of
satisfaction, investment, and commitment scores, were compared regarding physical abuse, reactions to psychological abuse,
ratings of perceived harm, endorsement of relationship schemas, psychological distress variables, and personality variables.
The cluster of women reporting higher satisfaction, investment, and commitment in these seemingly aversive relationships frequently
demonstrated differences from the other two clusters. Implications for clinical applications are discussed.