The purpose of the present investigation was to answer the calls from numerous authors and extend counseling psychology’s focus on the vocational needs of survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) by investigating the relationship between psychological/emotional victimization and work-related self-efficacy expectations and work-related outcome expectations. Consistent with previous research (Albaugh & Nauta, 2005; Brown, Reedy, Fountain, Johnson, & Dichiser, 2000; Chronister, 2006; Chronister, Linville, & Kaag, 2008; Chronister & McWhirter, 2004; Chronister & McWhirter, 2006), the present study uses Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) (1977, 1982) as its theoretical framework. More specifically, this investigation conceptualizes the verbal and psychological forms of interpersonal violence as a form of Bandura’s (1977, 1982) verbal persuasion learning experience. The overall aim of this examination was to determine whether the verbal and psychological aspects of IPV are related to a survivor’s work-related efficacy expectations, outcome expectations, and goals. Such research is consistent with Counseling Psychology’s historic attention towards vocational guidance and social justice, and could lead to interventions to enhance the lives of survivors of IPV.
Data from 117 survivors of IPV residing in domestic violence shelters were used. All participants completed the self-report measures of IPV (i.e. Psychological Maltreatment of Women Inventory-Short Form; Tolman, 1999, Severity of Violence
Against Women Scale; Marshall, 1992) and work-related self-efficacy expectations and outcome expectations (WRSEQ; author composed, WROEQ; author composed). Participants also completed a 25-item demographic questionnaire which included an item assessing the length of participants’ relationship (chronicity of abuse) and three items regarding their intentions to engage in work behaviors (work goals). The present data failed to show that psychological/emotional victimization significantly predicted survivors’ work-related self-efficacy expectations or work-related outcome expectations, even when chronicity of abuse was considered. Results of the exploratory analyses did support SCT in that work-related self-efficacy expectations and outcome expectations predicted work goals. The results also found that work-related outcome expectations mediated the relationship between chronicity of abuse and work goals and that older participants reported less positive expectations about the consequences of job-seeking and working than did younger participants. These findings also support the ideas underlying SCT.