Perception of violence and mental health in women from Chamelecón (Honduras)

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the relationship between the perception of violence and the mental and psychosocial health of women aged 20 to 45 from the Chamelecón community, San Pedro Sula. Method: A quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 120 women selected through convenience sampling. Two instruments were applied: the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and adapted as a proxy for the perception of violence, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), developed by Lovibond and Lovibond (1995), to assess mental and psychosocial health. Data were processed in Microsoft Excel through descriptive analysis of frequencies, percentages, and general trends. Results: Consistent trends were observed indicating that women with a higher perception of violence also reported higher levels of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and stress, along with lower psychosocial functionality. The most notable affectations were identified in the anxiety and stress dimensions, particularly among women aged 31 to 35 years. Conclusions: The perception of violence is associated with emotional and psychosocial distress, affecting women’s well-being and daily functioning. These findings highlight the need to strengthen community-based violence prevention and psychosocial care programs, particularly in urban vulnerable contexts such as Chamelecón.