Domestic Violence, Psychosomatic Distress, and Resilience Among Female Cleaners in Pakistan: A Two-Phase Quantitative Study with MBCT Intervention

Abstract

This study explores whether resilience among cleaning women experiencing domestic violence would moderate the relationship between domestic violence and psychosomatic problems in female cleaners from domestic and commercial workplaces in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Cleaning women in Pakistan belong to an occupational class vulnerable to domestic violence, economic deprivation, and reduced access to health care services that may predispose them to psychosomatic problems. The study used a two-phased quantitative methodology. In Phase I, 150 female cleaners completed assessments of domestic violence, psychosomatic symptoms, and resilience. Participants with mild-to-moderate psychosomatic symptoms (n = 25) participated in an eight- session MBCT intervention in Phase II using a pretest-posttest design. Domestic violence positively predicted psychosomatic problems while resilience negatively predicted psychosomatic symptoms. Resilience did not moderate this relationship. MBCT significantly decreased psychosomatic symptoms and significantly increased resilience among participants. Implications for the benefits of mindfulness-based interventions with psychologically vulnerable women are discussed among study participants overall.