Context Intimate partner violence against women can have negative mental health consequences for survivors. The effect of interventions designed to improve the survivors' depressive symptoms is unclear.Objective To determine whether an advocacy intervention would improve the depressive symptoms of Chinese women survivors of intimate partner violence' Design, Setting, and Participants Assessor-blind, randomized controlled trial of 200 Chinese women aged 18 years or older with ahistory of intimate partner violence was conducted from February 2007 to June 2009 in a community in Hong Kong, China. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group.Intervention The intervention group (n:100) received a l2-week advocacy intervention comprising empowerment and telephone social support. The control group (n:100) received usual community services including child care, health care and promotion, and recreational programs.Main Outcome Measures The primary outcome was change in depressive symptoms (Chinese Version of Beck Depression Inventory II) between baseline and 9 months. The minimal clinically important difference was 5 units. Secondary outcomes were changes in intimate partner violence (Chinese Revised Conflict Tactics Scales), health-related qualrty of life (Short Form Health 12 Survey) and perceived social support (Interpersonal Support Evaluation List) between baseline and 9 months. The usefulness of the intervention/usual community services was evaluated at 9 months. Results At 3 months, the mean change of depressive symptoms was 1I.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.5-13.7) in the control group and 14'9 (95yo Cl, in the intervention group. The respective mean changes at 9 months were 19.6 (95o/o CI, 16.6-22.7) and,23.2 (95o CI,20.4-26.0). The intervention effects at 3 and 9 months were not significantly different (P:.86). The intervention significantly reduced depressive symptoms over the control by 2.66 (95Yo,0.26-5.06; P:.03) which was less thanthe minimal clinically important difference. Among the secondary outcomes, statistically significant improvement was found in psychological aggression (-1.87;95% CI: -3.34, -0.40; 3 months: mean change from baseline : 1.5 [95yo CI, -1.0 to 3.9] in the control group and 0.3 l95yo CI, -0.7 to 1.41 in the intervention group; 9 months: mean change from baseline : -6.4195% CI, -7.8 to -5.0] in the control group and -8.9 l95yo CI, -10.6 to -7 .21inthe intervention group) and perceived social support (2.18; 95% CI: 0.48 to 3.89; 3 months: mean change from baseline: 6.4 l95o/o CI, 4.9-7 .8] in the control group and 9 .2 [95yo CI, 7 .7 -10.8] in the intervention group; 9 months: mean change from baseline: 12.4l95yo CI,10.5-14.31 in the control group and I4.4195% CI, l2.l-16.Il in the intervention group) but not in physical assault, sexual coercion, and health-related quality of life. By the end of the study, more women in the intervention group found the intervention to be useful-extremely useful in improving their intimate relationships vs those in the con...

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Advocacy intervention has been shown to be efficacious at reducing depressive symptoms in women who suffer from intimate partner violence (IPV). However, the intervention effect among abused immigrant women has not been well studied. This study compares the demographic and psychosocial characteristics between abused immigrant and nonimmigrant women, and evaluates the impact of immigration status on the efficacy of an advocacy intervention in reducing depressive symptoms and improving perceived social support. Two hundred abused Chinese women recruited from a local community center in Hong Kong were randomized to receive either the advocacy intervention or usual care. The advocacy intervention was found to be effective at reducing depressive symptoms and improving social support for abused Chinese nonimmigrant women, but the same effects were not seen for abused immigrant women. The findings provide essential insights into the need for developing targeted and efficacious advocacy interventions for abused immigrant women. Effective services to address abused immigrant women's needs were also suggested.

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