The The Effect of Learned Helplessness on Depression in Women Experiencing Dating Violence
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21009/JPPP.151.02Keywords:
learned helplessness, Depression, Dating Violence, Early Adult WomenAbstract
Dating violence (DV) among young adults is a critical issue that has a significant impact on victims’ mental health. According to data from the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (KemenPPPA) in 2025, there were 5,514 reported cases of violence, with 81.0% involving women. Boyfriends or friends were identified as the most frequent perpetrators. This study aims to examine the effect of learned helplessness on depression among female victims of dating violence. A quantitative research design was employed involving 200 female respondents aged 18–25 years in Indonesia. Participants were selected using a non-probability sampling technique, specifically purposive sampling. The inclusion criteria were women who had been in a dating relationship for at least six months and had experienced dating violence within the last 6–12 months. Data were collected through online questionnaires distributed via Google Forms to ensure participant anonymity and accessibility. The instruments used in this study were the Learned Helplessness Scale (LHS) and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Data analysis was conducted using simple linear regression with the assistance of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. The results showed an R² value of 0.819, indicating that 81.9% of the variance in depression was explained by learned helplessness. The regression coefficient beta (β) was 0.699 with a significance value of p = 0.000 (< 0.05), demonstrating a positive and significant effect. These findings indicate that higher levels of learned helplessness are associated with higher levels of depression among female victims of dating violence. The study confirms that learned helplessness is a strong predictor of depression, highlighting the importance of interventions that focus on restoring empowerment and a sense of self-control in victims.
Keywords: Learned Helplessness, Depression, Dating Violence, Early Adult Women.
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