Examining the Link Between Domestic Violence Victimization and Loneliness in a Dutch Community Sample: A Comparison Between Victims and Nonvictims by Type D Personality

Abstract

The current study investigated whether differences in loneliness scores between individuals with a distressed personality type (type D personality) and subjects without such a personality varied by domestic violence victimization. Participants (N = 625) were recruited by random sampling from the Municipal Basic Administration of the Dutch city of 's-Hertogenbosch and were invited to fill out a set of questionnaires on health status. For this study, only ratings for domestic violence victimization, type D personality, feelings of loneliness, and demographics were used. Statistical analyses yielded main effects on loneliness for both type D personality and history of domestic violence victimization. Above and beyond these main effects, their interaction was significantly associated with loneliness as well. However, this result seemed to apply to emotional loneliness in particular. Findings were discussed in light of previous research and study limitations.

Fig. 1

Relationship between domestic violence, type D personality, loneliness, and mental health problems

Fig. 2

Mean total loneliness scores differentiated by type D personality and victim status. Note that type D/nonvictims and nontype D/victims did not differ significantly from each other. All remaining between-groups differences were significant at p < 0.001

Fig. 3

Mean Emotional loneliness scores in type Ds and nontype Ds differentiated by victim status