How Does Domestic Violence Affect Women's Mental Health?

Roberts, Gwenneth L.; Williams, Gail M.; Lawrence, Joan M.; Raphael, Beverley

doi:10.1300/j013v28n01_08

Cited by 81 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…A history of childhood abuse increases a woman's risk of subsequent mental health problems if she is also abused as an adult. In this double-abuse group, there may also be an increased risk of substance misuse (Roberts et al, 1998).…”

Section: Domestic Violencementioning

confidence: 99%

Needs of women patients with mental illness

Ramsay¹,

Welch²,

Youard³

2001

Adv. psychiatr. treat

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Women patients suffer from a range of mental disorders similar to those that men may experience. However, there are some striking differences in the prevalence of specific disorders, and in their presentation and management. Some mental illnesses only occur in women. It seems that women patients may have a different experience of treatment, a consequence of differences in their needs and also of the way that health professionals perceive those needs. These differences are embedded in the wider cultural milieu in which we live. There are particular issues for women patients in relation to, for example, childhood sexual abuse, rape and domestic violence. At present, tools to measure needs of individual patients are generally not gender specific.

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Section: Domestic Violencementioning

confidence: 99%

Needs of women patients with mental illness

Ramsay¹,

Welch²,

Youard³

2001

Adv. psychiatr. treat

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“…6,[11][12][13][14] In addition to the direct psychological effects, abuse may negatively affect the factors that improve psychological well-being.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3,[7][8][9][10] Abused women are 2.4 to 3 times more likely to report depression. 6,[11][12][13][14] In addition to the direct psychological effects, abuse may negatively affect the factors that improve psychological well-being.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychosocial Effects of Physical and Verbal Abuse in Postmenopausal Women

Mouton¹,

Rodabough²,

Rovi³

et al. 2010

The Annals of Family Medicine

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PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the psychological effects of physical and verbal abuse in a cohort of older women.METHODS This observational cohort study was conducted at 40 clinical sites nationwide that are part of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Observational Study. We surveyed 93,676 women aged 50 to 79 years using the mental health subscales and the combined mental component summary (MCS) score of the RAND Medical Outcomes Study 36-item instrument.RESULTS At baseline, women reporting exposure to physical abuse only, verbal abuse only, or both physical and verbal abuse had a greater number of depressive symptoms (1.6,1.6, and 3 more symptoms, respectively) and lower MCS scores (4.6, 5.4, and 8.1 lower scores, respectively) than women not reporting abuse. Compared with women who had no exposure to abuse, women had a greater increase in the number of depressive symptoms when they reported a 3-year incident exposure to physical abuse only (0.2; 95% confi dence interval [CI], -0.21 to 0.60), verbal abuse only (0.18; 95% CI, 0.11 to 0.24), or both physical and verbal abuse (0.15; 95% CI, -0.05 to 0.36); and they had a decrease in MCS scores when they reported a 3-year incident exposure to physical abuse only (-1.12; 95% CI, -2.45 to 0.12), verbal abuse only (-0.55; 95% CI, -0.75 to -0.34), and both physical and verbal abuse (-0.44; 95% CI, -1.11 to -0.22) even after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics.CONCLUSION Exposure to abuse in older, functionally independent women is associated with poorer mental health. The persistence of these fi ndings suggests that clinicians need to consider abuse exposure in their older female patients who have depressive symptoms. Clinicians caring for older women should identify women at risk for physical and verbal abuse and intervene appropriately. Ann Fam Med 2010;8:206-213. doi:10.1370/afm.1095. INTRODUCTIONA buse is an ongoing concern for older women.1 Physical abuse is the infl iction of physical pain, injury, or physical coercion, and involves at least 1 act of violence. Verbal abuse is the infl iction of mental anguish through yelling, screaming, threatening, humiliating, infantilizing, or provoking intentional fear.1,2 Exposure to acts of abuse is a stressful event that has a negative effect on a woman's psychological well-being. It is known that in younger age-groups, domestic violence victims are at increased risk for psychological problems. [3][4][5] Female victims are 2 times more likely to have a psychiatric diagnosis and 1.7 to 4.6 times more likely to develop an anxiety disorder, a mood disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, or an eating disorder.6,7 Women exposed to abuse are more than 3 times as likely to report poor overall mental health, lower SF-12 Health Survey short-form mental component summary (MCS) scores, and lower vitality.3,7-10 Abused women are 2.4 to 3 times more likely to report depression. 6,[11][12][13][14] In addition to the direct psychological effects, abuse may negatively affect the factors that improve...

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“…[1][2][3][4][5] Women who are victims of intimate partner violence make up 34% to 46% of adult female patients in primary care practices. [6][7][8][9] Although nearly all physicians believe identifi cation and management of family violence is important, 10,11 in practice routine screening is uncommon.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patients' Advice to Physicians About Intervening in Family Conflict

Burge¹,

Schneider

Ivy

et al. 2005

The Annals of Family Medicine

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PURPOSE We wanted to understand patients' views about physician interventions with family violence and confl ict.METHODS Clinic staff surveyed 253 male and female family practice patients in 6 member offi ces of the South Texas Ambulatory Research Network (STARNet). The survey instrument addressed demographics, relationship quality, intimate partner violence, and physician interventions with family confl ict. Open-ended questions asked respondents to provide advice for "doctors who want to help patients with severe family problems." RESULTS Among women in relationships, 10% reported being physically hurt by a partner in the past year and 39% in their lifetimes. Among men in relationships, 7% reported physically hurting their partner in the past year and 16% in their lifetimes. Nearly all respondents, including 100% of victims and perpetrators of violence, believed physicians should ask about family confl ict (96%), and that physicians could be helpful (93%). Two thirds of the sample reported that their physician had never asked them about family confl ict. Investigators used qualitative analysis to summarize patients' advice to physicians. Responses clustered around 3 general themes: communication, assistance, and cautions or encouragement. Patients want physicians to ask about family confl ict, listen to their stories, and provide information and appropriate referrals. They raised some cautions and concerns, but also provided words of encouragement. CONCLUSIONMost patients are open to discussions about family confl ict with their physicians. The skills they recommend to physicians are well within the domain of family medicine training.

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How Does Domestic Violence Affect Women's Mental Health?

Cited by 81 publications

References 18 publications

Needs of women patients with mental illness

Needs of women patients with mental illness

Psychosocial Effects of Physical and Verbal Abuse in Postmenopausal Women

Patients' Advice to Physicians About Intervening in Family Conflict

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