The Co-Occurrence and Unique Mental Health Effects of Political Violence and Intimate Partner Violence

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 268-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cindy A. Sousa ◽  
Kim Yacoubian ◽  
Patricia Flaherty Fischette ◽  
Muhammad M. Haj-Yahia
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Political Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Violence Exposure ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Depressive Symptomology

The global mental health ramifications of political violence and intimate partner violence (IPV) are well established. There also exists a growing body of evidence about the increased risks for IPV within situations of political violence. Yet, except for a few studies, there is little literature that simultaneously examines how political violence and IPV might result in unique risks for particular types of mental health sequela. Delineating possible divergent patterns between specific mental health conditions resulting from political violence and IPV takes on an increased urgency given that, although they are related, the two most commonly reported outcomes of these two types of violence—post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression—not only require different types of treatment, but may in fact be generated or maintained by disparate paths. Using survey data from adult women in Palestine ( n = 122), this study explores the relationships between IPV and political violence (both lifetime and past-month exposure) and tests their independent relationships to PTSD and depressive symptomology. After controlling for the other form of violence exposure, political violence was correlated with PTSD and not with depressive symptomology, while IPV was correlated with depressive symptomology and not with PTSD. Findings demonstrate that distinct forms of violence exposure might indeed be associated with specific mental health outcomes. Results illustrate the need to assess for both political violence and IPV when researching and designing interventions related to violence.

Exploring Mental Health Professionals’ Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence–Related Training: Results From a Global Survey

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052090802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha C. Burns ◽  
Cary S. Kogan ◽  
Richard E. Heyman ◽  
Heather M. Foran ◽  
Amy M. Smith Slep ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Relationship Problems ◽  
Mental Health Settings

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health problem that has been shown to lead to serious mental health consequences. Due to its frequent co-occurrence with psychiatric disorders, it is important to assess for IPV in mental health settings to improve treatment planning and referral. However, lack of training in how to identify and respond to IPV has been identified as a barrier for the assessment of IPV. The present study seeks to better understand this IPV-related training gap by assessing global mental health professionals’ experiences of IPV-related training and factors that contribute to their likelihood of receiving training. Participants were French-, Spanish-, and Japanese-speaking psychologists and psychiatrists ( N = 321) from 24 nations differing on variables related to IPV, including IPV prevalence, IPV-related norms, and IPV-related laws. Participants responded to an online survey asking them to describe their experiences of IPV-related training (i.e., components and hours of training) and were asked to rate the frequency with which they encountered IPV in clinical practice and their level of knowledge and experience related to relationship problems; 53.1% of participants indicated that they had received IPV-related training. Clinicians from countries with relatively better implemented laws addressing IPV and those who encountered IPV more often in their regular practice were more likely to have received training. Participants who had received IPV-related training, relative to those without training, were more likely to report greater knowledge and experience related to relationship problems. Findings suggest that clinicians’ awareness of IPV and the institutional context in which they practice are related to training. Training, in turn, is associated with subjective appraisals of knowledge and experience related to relationship problems. Increasing institutional efforts to address IPV (e.g., implementing IPV legislation) may contribute to improved practices with regard to IPV in mental health settings.

scholarly journals The Use of Children as a Tactic of Intimate Partner Violence and its Relationship to Survivors’ Mental Health

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn A. V. Clements ◽  
Mackenzie Sprecher ◽  
Sydney Modica ◽  
Michelle Terrones ◽  
Katie Gregory ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Minor Children ◽  
Abusive Partners

AbstractAlthough prior research has established that intimate partner violence (IPV) often leads to increased depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), little is known about how often abusive partners and ex-partners use survivors’ children as an abuse tactic, nor whether this form of IPV also is detrimental to survivors’ mental health. The current study interviewed 299 unstably housed survivors of intimate partner violence shortly after they sought services from a domestic violence agency. All participants were parents of minor children. In-person interviews asked about abuse experienced in the prior six months, including the ways children were used as a form of IPV. Participants were also asked about their current depression, anxiety, and symptoms of PTSD. As hypothesized, the majority of parents reported their abusive partners and ex-partners had used their children as a form of IPV to control and hurt them. Further, after controlling for other forms of IPV, use of the children significantly predicted both increased anxiety and greater number of PTSD symptoms. Results show the importance of focusing on the use of children as a common and injurious form of abuse used against survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV).

scholarly journals Intimate partner violence types and symptoms of common mental disorders in a rural community of Chiapas, Mexico: Implications for global mental-health practice

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0256850
Author(s):  
Mercedes Aguerrebere ◽  
Sonia M. Frías ◽  
Mary C. Smith Fawzi ◽  
Rocío López ◽  
Giuseppe Raviola
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Alcohol Abuse ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Health Practice ◽  
Mental Health Practice

This paper examines the scope and characteristics of male-to-female intimate partner violence in southern rural Chiapas, Mexico, and its association with depression and anxiety symptoms, highlighting the role of partner controlling behaviors. Participants were selected by random sampling. One-hundred and forty-one women >15 years participated in the study. Data was obtained through an adapted version of the National Survey of the Dynamics of Household Relationships (ENDIREH) intimate partner violence scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression symptoms and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 for anxiety symptoms. Quantitative results indicated a 66.4% lifetime prevalence of physical and/or sexual IPV among ever-partnered women 15 years or older (95% CI: 57.5–74.5%). Forty percent (95% CI: 32.0–49.7%) of them reported having experienced physical and/or sexual violence with high partner control (HC-IPV), and 25.8% (95% CI: 18.5–34.3%) reported having experienced physical and/or sexual violence with low or moderate partner control (MC-IPV). Lifetime experience of HC-IPV was significantly associated with moderate-severe depression symptoms (RR = 5.8) and suicidality (RR = 2.08). While partner alcohol abuse was associated with a 3.06 times higher risk of lifetime physical and/or sexual IPV, 30.9% of women mentioned that their partners were never drunk when violence occurred. Interestingly, high partner alcohol abuse was more frequent among women who reported HC-IPV compared to MC-IPV. Implications for global mental health practice are discussed.

scholarly journals Attitudinal Acceptance of Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health Outcomes for Female Survivors in Sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5099
Author(s):  
Reine-Marcelle Ibala ◽  
Ilana Seff ◽  
Lindsay Stark
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Violence Exposure ◽  
Suicide Ideation ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes

While current literature evidences a strong association between gender-based violence exposure and adverse mental health outcomes, few studies have explored how attitudinal acceptance of intimate partner violence (IPV) might impact this relationship. This analysis employed data from 13–24-year-old females as part of the Violence Against Children Surveys in Nigeria, Uganda, and Malawi. Mental health status, defined by the Kessler Screening Scale for Psychological Distress, and suicide ideation served as outcome measures. Predictors of interest included lifetime experiences of IPV and attitudinal acceptance of IPV. Country-stratified logistic and ordinary least squares regressions were used to predict outcomes and included interactions between violence exposure and attitudinal acceptance of IPV. Violence exposure was associated with increased symptoms of mental distress and increased suicide ideation in all countries. Among those who experienced IPV, exhibiting attitudinal acceptance of IPV was associated with improved mental health in Nigeria and Malawi. IPV tolerance conferred lower odds of suicide ideation following IPV exposure in Nigeria. The findings suggest that programs aiming to reduce attitudinal acceptance of IPV must consider how these changes may interact with women’s exposure to IPV.

scholarly journals Quality of marital relationship, partner violence, psychological distress, and resilience in women with primary infertility

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sisira C. Satheesan ◽  
Veena A. Satyaranayana
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Marital Relationship ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Primary Infertility ◽  
The Impact

Background: Primary infertility is an emerging public health problem associated with immense social stigma and adverse mental health consequence. The impact associated with infertility different from culture to culture. There is a paucity of qualitative research in Indian culture. Hence we aimed to explore the quality of marital relationship, psychological distress and resilience in a sample of women with primary infertility.Methods: A cross sectional single group mixed design was used. Sample comprised of 30 adult women, in their late twenties, diagnosed with primary infertility- female factor, by practicing gynaecologist; recruited from a renowned infertility hospital in Bangalore. The participants were assessed on marital quality scale, domestic violence questionnaire, depression anxiety stress scale-21, and Connor Davidson resilience scale after obtaining written informed consent. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: Findings indicate high rates of intimate partner violence (47%) in the sample. Poorer quality of marital relationship was associated with higher levels of psychological distress and lower resilience. Women who experienced violence were more likely to report poor quality of marital relationship, higher levels of distress, and lower resilience than women who did not. Experience of at least one form of intimate partner violence emerged as a significant predictor of psychological distress.Conclusions:The need for prevention and intervention service for infertility is at its peak. The findings of the present research have implications in mental health assessment and intervention in this vulnerable group of women.  

Predictive Factors of Mental Health in Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence in Chile

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110428
Author(s):  
Paloma Labra-Valerdi ◽  
Salvador Chacón-Moscoso ◽  
Susana Sanduvete-Chaves
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
General Psychological Distress ◽  
Post Traumatic

Studies about violence against women specific to the Chilean population are scarce. As a result, government treatment programs lack a local perspective. Predictor variables were analyzed in the mental health of Chilean women who have survived intimate partner abuse. Two hundred and two women who made regular visits to public Women’s Centers participated in the study; on average, they had survived 11 years of abuse. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine what variable/s in the history of violence best predicted the mental health variables. Among other protective factors, an increase in both resilience and the time since the last violent episode yielded a reduction in levels of general psychological distress ( B = –1.836, p < .001 and B = 1.117, p < .001 respectively), post-traumatic stress disorder ( B = –1.243, p = .002 and B = 1.221, p < .001 respectively), and depression ( B = –1.822, p < .001 and B = 1.433, p < .001 respectively). The study also noted risk factors such as a high level of additional stressors, which in turn led to increased levels of general psychological distress ( B = 1.007, p = .005), post-traumatic stress disorder ( B = 0.928, p = .013), and depression ( B = 1.061, p = .016). The Women’s Center is the place where women feel most supported. To improve the effectiveness of treatments at these centers and aid in the recovery of women who have suffered from intimate partner violence, the predictive factors significantly related to mental health should be taken into account. This means prioritizing cases where the last episode of violence was more recent, addressing additional stressors, and promoting resilience.

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