The role of resilience in the relationship between intimate partner violence severity and ICD-11 CPTSD severity

Background: Resilience is a modulating factor in the development of PTSD and CPTSD after exposure to traumatic events. However, the relationship between resilience and ICD-11 CPTSD is not adequately understood in survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Objective: The aim of this study is to determine whether resilience has a mediating role in the relationship between severity of violence and severity of CPTSD symptoms. Method: A sample of 202 women IPV survivors completed self-rated questionnaires to assess CPTSD, severity of violence and resilience. Results: Mediation analyses indicated that there was a direct relationship between the severity of violence and the severity of CPTSD symptoms (β = .113, p β = −.248, p β = −.061, p = .254). Conclusions: These findings suggest that resilience does not mediate the relationship between violence severity and CPTSD severity. Directions for future research are discussed. The severity of intimate partner violence (physical, sexual and/or psychological violence together or in isolation) could lead to symptoms of complex post-traumatic stress disorder in women survivors of IPV in the present sample.Lower levels of resilience are associated with higher levels of symptoms of complex post-traumatic stress disorder.Resilience does not mediate the relationship between violence severity and CPTSD severity. The severity of intimate partner violence (physical, sexual and/or psychological violence together or in isolation) could lead to symptoms of complex post-traumatic stress disorder in women survivors of IPV in the present sample. Lower levels of resilience are associated with higher levels of symptoms of complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Resilience does not mediate the relationship between violence severity and CPTSD severity.