Assessment of psychological symptoms in Mexican women victims of digital violence. A descriptive study with LSB-50 results

Abstract

Digital violence is a set of attacks against vulnerable groups through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and cyberspace, leaving physical, psychological, and social consequences. The present study aimed to evaluate the presence and severity of symptoms in Mexican women who have experienced digital violence. To this end, a quantitative approach was used, applying the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-50), with which statistical analyses were performed to describe and synthesise the data obtained from 262 participants, with an average age of 29.56 years (SD = 10.842). Most of the participants came from the State of Mexico (46.60%). The results showed significant scores on all scales of the test, with a predominance of symptoms of anxiety (An, PC=98), psychoreactivity (Pr, PC=96) and obsession-compulsion (Ob, PC=96). Likewise, a considerably high global severity index (GLOBAL) was recorded in psychosomatic and psychopathological conditions (PC=95), together with a marked level of psychopathological manifestations and syndromes (NUM, PC=96). The degree of intensity (INT) of symptoms was notable (PC=70). Finally, the psychopathological risk index reflected the significant presence of symptoms linked to the psychopathological clinical population, showing signs of devaluation, misunderstanding, fear, somatisation and hostility with suicidal ideas. These findings underscore the seriousness of the impact that violence has on women.