The psychobiology of stress and intimate partner violence

• Published in: Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019-07, Vol.105, p.9-24
• Main Authors: Yim, Ilona S., Kofman, Yasmin B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biopsychological; Dysregulation; Health; Humans; Intimate partner violence; Intimate Partner Violence - psychology; Stress; Stress, Psychological - physiopathology; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Systematic review
• ISSN: 0306-4530; 1873-3360
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.08.017

•Biopsychosocial pathways underlying the IPV-health link are not well understood.•We conducted a systematic review on biological and stress-related processes of IPV.•Dysregulations in endocrine and immune-inflammatory markers are tied to IPV.•Longitudinal studies show psychological stress follows new instances of IPV.•Integrative, prospective designs are needed to study the IPV-health link. Exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) negatively affects health outcomes, however, the biopsychosocial pathways underlying this relationship are not well understood. We conducted a systematic review of research published from 2000 through 2018 on biological and psychological stress-related correlates and consequences of IPV exposure. Fifty-three publications were included. The biological and psychological literatures have evolved separately and remain distinct. The biological literature provides emerging evidence of stress-related endocrine and immune-inflammatory dysregulations that are in line with patterns typically observed among chronically stressed individuals. The psychological literature provides strong evidence that IPV is associated with psychological stress, and that psychological stress follows new instances of IPV. Larger scale, integrative studies using prospective study designs are needed to more carefully map out how IPV influences victims both biologically and psychologically, and how these biopsychological changes, in turn, affect the health of victims over time.