Citation

Forte T, Cohen MM, Du Mont J, Hyman I, Romans SE. Arch. Women Ment. Health 2005; 8(4): 248-256.

Affiliation

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

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00737-005-0093-9

PMID

16010449

Abstract

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.