RT Article
T1 Trajectories of Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress, and Chronic Pain Among Women Who Have Separated From an Abusive Partner: A Longitudinal Analysis
JF Journal of interpersonal violence
VO 38
IS 1/2
SP 1540
OP 1568
A1 Ford-Gilboe, Marilyn
A1 Varcoe, Colleen 1952-
A1 Wuest, Judith
A1 Campbell, Jacquelyn C.
A1 Pajot, Michelle
A1 Heslop, Lisa
A1 Perrin, Nancy
A2 Varcoe, Colleen 1952-
A2 Wuest, Judith
A2 Campbell, Jacquelyn C.
A2 Pajot, Michelle
A2 Heslop, Lisa
A2 Perrin, Nancy
LA English
YR 2023
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1830284894
AB This longitudinal study explored changes in women's health after separation from an abusive partner by characterizing the trajectories of their mental health (depression and post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) and physical health (chronic pain) over a 4-year period. We examined how the severity of intimate partner violence (IPV) affected these trajectories, controlling for selected baseline factors using 5 waves of data collected from a community sample of 309 English-speaking, Canadian women. IPV severity was measured using the Index of Spouse Abuse where women were asked to consider the entire period of their partner relationship up to present at wave 1 and to rate their IPV experiences in the previous 12 months at waves 2-5. Mental health was measured using established self-report measures of depression (CESD) and PTSD (Davidson Trauma Scale), while chronic pain was measured using the Chronic Pain Grade Scale. Trajectories were estimated using MLM techniques with severity of IPV and selected co-variates (time since separation, age, financial strain) included. Our results show that women's health improved significantly over time, although significant levels of depression, PTSD symptoms and disabling chronic pain remained at the end of wave 5. Regardless of time since separation, more severe IPV was associated with higher levels of depression, PTSD, and disabling chronic pain, with IPV having a stronger effect on these health outcomes over time, suggesting cumulative effects of IPV on health. The results of this study contribute to quantifying the continuing mental and physical health burdens experienced by women after separation from an abusive partner. Increased attention to the long-term effects of violence on women's health beyond the crisis of leaving is critically needed to strengthen health and social services and better support women's recovery and healing.
K1 Chronic Pain
K1 PTSD
K1 mental health and violence
K1 Domestic Violence
K1 Battered Women
DO 10.1177/08862605221090595