Gender-Based Violence in Women Over 50: Psychological Impact and Suicide Risk Factors

This study analyses gender-based violence in women over 50, focusing on its psychological repercussions and suicide risk. Based on the invisibility of this population in public and scientific discourse, the research examined abusive dynamics in intimate relationships and their consequences for victims' mental, social and emotional health. A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted with 120 Portuguese women with a history of domestic violence. Four validated instruments were applied: the Questionnaire of Emotional Response to Domestic and Sexual Violence, the Domestic Violence Scale, the Plutchik Suicide Risk Scale and the Scale of Beliefs about Conjugal Violence. Results showed psychological, gender and social violence as the most prevalent forms, whereas sexual violence was least identified. Participants presented medium-high levels of emotional symptomatology, particularly irritable mood, depressive symptoms and social maladjustment. Significant associations emerged between suicide risk and emotional variables such as anxiety and irritability. Legitimization of violence, especially linked to family preservation or external causes, was also associated with suicide risk. Findings highlight the urgent need for public policies and tailored interventions to mitigate long-term consequences of violence and promote older women's well-being.