Citation

Kim JY, Lee JH, Song HJ, Kim DG, Yim YS. Health Soc. Work 2017; 42(1): 41-47.

Affiliation

Jae Yop Kim, PhD, is professor, School of Social Welfare, Yonsei University, Seoul. Ji Hyeon Lee, PhD, is assistant professor, Department of Social Work, Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary, Seoul. Hyang Joo Song, PhD, is researcher, Social Welfare Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul. Dong Goo Kim, PhD, is professor, Department of Pharmacology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul. Yeong Shin Yim, PhD, is postdoctoral fellow, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, McGovern Institute of Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. Address correspondence to Ji Hyeon Lee, Department of Social Work, Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary, Seoul, 04965, South Korea; e-mail: hifivejh@hanmail.net. This study was supported by Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary research fund.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/hsw/hlw053

PMID

28395079

Abstract

Women subject to violence by their intimate partners often experience a range of psychosocial problems such as depression, excessive alcohol use, and stressful life events that, in turn, lead to health issues. This study examined psychosocial difficulties and oxidative stress levels in abused and non-abused Korean women and analyzed the relationship between psychosocial outcomes and oxidative stress levels. Markers were determined in 16 women (seven abused, nine non-abused). The two groups of women (abused and non-abused) were compared with respect to scores in depression, alcohol use, life stress events, and oxidative stress biomarkers using the Mann-Whitney U test. Correlations between depression, alcohol use, life stress events, and oxidative stress biomarkers were tested by the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. The abused women had significantly higher levels of oxidative stress markers and significantly lower levels of antioxidants than the non-abused women. Life stress events and oxidative biomarker levels were significantly correlated. These findings have implications for both social services providers and medical personnel when assessing abused women to ensure that they receive the most appropriate service.

© 2016 National Association of Social Workers.

Language: en

Keywords

intimate partner violence; oxidative stress biomarkers; psychosocial difficulties; women