Health consequences of intimate partner violence against married women: a population-based study in northern Iran

The effects of different types of intimate partner violence (IPV) on mental health are understudied. The aim of this study was to analyse the association between women's mental health and physical, psychological and sexual IPV. We invited subjects of a population-based survey conducted in 2015...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychology, health & medicine health & medicine, 2017-08, Vol.22 (7), p.845-850
Main Authors: Soleimani, Robabeh, Ahmadi, Reza, Yosefnezhad, Azadeh
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders - epidemiology
Battered Women - psychology
Depression - psychology
Depressive Disorder
domestic violence
Female
Health Surveys
Humans
Intimate partner violence
Iran
Marriage
Mental Health
Middle Aged
Risk Factors
Sex Offenses
Spouse Abuse - psychology
Women's Health
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Summary:The effects of different types of intimate partner violence (IPV) on mental health are understudied. The aim of this study was to analyse the association between women's mental health and physical, psychological and sexual IPV. We invited subjects of a population-based survey conducted in 2015 in Rasht, Iran, on IPV against women to complete the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). The present research study is a secondary study based on these data and archival data from the 2015 study. For analysis, multivariate analysis of covariance was used. Additionally, predictors of IPV were evaluated using linear regression. A total of 2091 married women were surveyed. The participants were divided into abused women (n = 512, 24.5%) and non-abused women (n = 1579, 75.5%). The pattern of IPV among our patients showed more instances of psychological aggression than physical assault, sexual coercion or injury. Our results show that the non-psychotic psychiatric disorders of the victims were significantly impaired in all aspects, including somatic symptoms, anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction, and depression. Except social dysfunction, the psychological and sexual abuse were significant predictors of other aspects of mental health. Our findings suggest that risk of IPV is high in this population. They also indicate that various forms of abuse are different from each other in terms of predicting a victim's mental health. Different strategies may be required to reduce and prevent this violence. Additional research is needed to confirm and expand upon our findings.
ISSN:1354-8506
1465-3966
DOI:10.1080/13548506.2016.1263755