Cognitive Structures among Abused Jordanian Married Women in Jordan A Descriptive analytical Study in the Capital and Irbid Governorates

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify the impact of demographic characteristics on the cognitive structures of abused Jordanian married women. To achieve the objectives of the research, a questionnaire consisting of 68 items was applied: 20 items measured women’s exposure to violence, and 48 items measured distorted cognitive structures. Five demographic characteristics were adopted: income, educational level, years of marriage, age, and employment.

The research sample consisted of 102 abused Jordanian married women who visit Shari’a Courts and Family Reform offices in the Capital and Irbid Governorates.

The researcher used the descriptive analytical approach. The results revealed statistically significant differences in some domains of cognitive structures attributed to differences in demographic characteristics. They also showed statistically significant inverse relationships between certain demographic characteristics and dimensions of distorted cognitive structures.