Abstract
Background
Several cross-sectional studies have demonstrated the negative impact that intimate
partner violence (IPV) has on the physical health of women. However, longitudinal
studies are needed to establish the time course of this effect. This study assessed
the physical health course of female IPV victims and established the factors that
enhance or impede their recovery.
Methods
Women (n = 91) who participated in a previous cross-sectional study (T-1) and were either
victims of physical/psychological IPV (n = 33) or psychological IPV (n = 23) were evaluated 3 years later (T-2). A control group of women (n = 35) was included for comparison. Structured interviews provided information regarding
IPV characteristics, physical health, and lifestyle.
Findings
Physical symptoms decreased over time for both groups of abused women. Factors that
contributed to this improvement were perception of social support and the cessation
of physical IPV. Factors that impaired recovery included cohabitation with the aggressor,
victimization experiences at T-2, negative perceptions of life events, and continuing
psychological IPV.
Conclusions
This study shows that physical health improvement is possible in female victims of
IPV, but that continuing psychological IPV hinders recovery. Additional longitudinal
studies are needed to investigate the factors that best predict health recovery in
female IPV victims to design effective intervention programs.
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Biography
Segunda Sánchez-Lorente is psychologist and criminologist, with a PhD in Neurosciences from the University of Valencia. Her research interests are the consequences of intimate partner violence on women's health. At the present, she works as educational referent in a school–foundation for unprivileged children.
Biography
Concepcion Blasco-Ros is a psychologist with a PhD in Neurosciences from the University of Valencia. Her research interests are related to the consequences of intimate partner violence on women's health, mainly mental health and the impact on the endocrine system. She has worked as psychotherapist.
Biography
Manuela Martinez, MD, PhD, is Professor and Head of the Department of Psychobiology at the University of Valencia. Her research interests include both sides of violence: The aggressor and the victim, especially the biological contribution to violence and its impact on the victims.
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
July 13,
2012
Received in revised form:
July 12,
2012
Received:
March 27,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
