Intimate partner violence, prenatal stress, and substance use among pregnant Black women

Abstract

Objectives We examine the mediation effects of prenatal stress on the associations between intimate partner violence (IPV) experience and the most common forms of substance use (i.e., cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and marijuana use) among pregnant Black women. Design Cross‐sectional. Sample Black women (N = 203) from metropolitan Detroit, Michigan and Columbus, Ohio, were recruited between 8 and 29 weeks of gestation. Measurements Women were asked about IPV experience during 12 months prior to the start of the pregnancy, perceived stress during pregnancy, and substance use during pregnancy. Results Intimate partner violence prior to pregnancy was positively associated with cigarette smoking and marijuana use but not with alcohol use during pregnancy. IPV prior to pregnancy was also positively associated with higher levels of perceived stress during pregnancy after controlling for covariates. Path analysis indicated that IPV had an indirect effect on marijuana use through perceived stress (standardized indirect effect = 0.026, SE = 0.020, 95% CI = 0.005–0.064, p =.017). Conclusions Perceived stress during pregnancy partially mediated the association between previous experience of IPV and marijuana use among pregnant Black women. Interventions are needed to reduce IPV that would lower stress during pregnancy and consequently substance abuse to improve pregnancy outcomes and maternal and newborn health.

Association between experiences of intimate partner sexual violence and cigarette smoking among women in union in Papua New Guinea: evidence from a nationally representative survey

“…The study found that women who had experienced IPSV had a greater odds of smoking cigarette. Research on the association between IPSV and health risk behaviors especially cigarette smoking are well documented [ 20 ] and consistent with the findings of this study. For instance, in a cross-sectional study that examined the association between intimate partner violence experience and cigarette smoking, Zhang and colleagues [ 20 ] found women experiencing intimate partner violence were more likely to smoke cigarette.…”

“…Research on the association between IPSV and health risk behaviors especially cigarette smoking are well documented [ 20 ] and consistent with the findings of this study. For instance, in a cross-sectional study that examined the association between intimate partner violence experience and cigarette smoking, Zhang and colleagues [ 20 ] found women experiencing intimate partner violence were more likely to smoke cigarette. In the US, a meta-analysis of 31 peer-reviewed studies to evaluate the relationship between intimate partner violence victimization and cigarette smoking revealed victims of intimate partner violence are at greater risk of smoking with a composite side effect of d ¼ 0.41 [ 21 ].…”

Maternal Childhood Maltreatment, Internal Working Models, and Perinatal Substance Use: Is There a Role for Hyperkatifeia? A Systematic Review

“…Much like childhood maltreatment experiences, exposure to intimate partner violence has been associated with increased risk for perinatal substance use, though the directional relationship is unclear. Of the 31 studies reporting relevant data 67,68,70,76,79,96,132 -156 , 29 demonstrated associations between exposure to intimate partner violence and substance use. 67,68,70,76,79,96,132 -154 Of these studies reporting higher co-incidence of intimate partner violence with substance use, two longitudinal studies reported increased substance use in women following exposure to intimate partner violence 96,148 , four studies reported associations between intimate pa...…”

“…Relationships with offspring and offspring outcomes. Of the 54 articles pertinent to associations between impaired internal working models and early parent-child relationships and offspring outcomes, 14,59,62,63,71,72,76,77,92,[107][108][109][110][111][112][113][114][115][116][117][118][119][120][121][122][123][124][126][127][128][129][130]134,139,147,156,[165][166][167][168][169][170][171][172][173][174][175][176][177]…”

“…101 Perinatal substance use and internal working models of relationships. A relationship between perinatal substance use, sub optimal internal working models of relationships, and hyperkatifeia-related constructs was present in 12 articles, 67,79,133,139,140,142,144,145,147,151,154,155 noting depressive symptoms, 67,79,142,144,145 higher distress, 140,155 perception of infants as dysregulated, 147 increased substance use after experiencing reproductive coercion, 133 use of substances to cope, 139,151 or mothers being unable to stop use during pregnancy. 154…”