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Psychological and physical sequelae of intimate partner violence among women with limitations in their activities of daily living

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Summary

Objective: To compare the psychological and physical sequelae of physical/sexual intimate partner violence in women with and without activity limitations.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Canadian 1999 General Social Survey. We included women reporting intimate partner violence in the previous 5 years (n = 897).

Results: As a result of the violence, women with activity limitations were significantly more likely to feel ashamed/guilty (21.7 vs. 14.5%), depression/anxiety (31.5 vs. 19.8%), fearful (43.0 vs. 33.0%), lowered self-esteem (35.2 vs. 21.1%), increased caution/awareness (20.3 vs. 10.9%), and problems relating to men (16.4 vs. 5.4%). Significantly more women with activity limitations reported physical injury from violence (57.0 vs. 36.6%) and having to take time off from everyday activities (42.1 vs. 30.3%). Women with activity limitations had higher medication use for sleeping problems (OR = 3.17, 95% CI = 1.36, 5.73), anxiety (OR = 3.29, 95% CI = 1.75, 6.19) and depression (OR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.41, 4.90).

Conclusion: Results suggest an additive effect between intimate partner violence and activity limitations that adds disproportionately to the burden of health for women with activity limitations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Research in Women’s Health, Sunnybrook and Women’s Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    T. Forte, M. M. Cohen, J. Du Mont, I. Hyman & S. Romans

  2. Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    M. M. Cohen

  3. Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    J. Du Mont & I. Hyman

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    S. Romans

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  1. T. Forte
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  2. M. M. Cohen
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  4. I. Hyman
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  5. S. Romans
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Forte, T., Cohen, M., Du Mont, J. et al. Psychological and physical sequelae of intimate partner violence among women with limitations in their activities of daily living. Arch Womens Ment Health 8, 248–256 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-005-0093-9

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