Women Exposed To Violence From Partner Have Higher Rates Of Depression, Adverse Health, Study Says

Women who have been exposed to intimate partner violence, or IPV, have significantly higher rates of depression, social isolation and physical health symptoms than other women, according to a study published in the June issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, United Press International reports (United Press International, 5/16). Amy Bonomi, senior research associate at the health system Group Health Cooperative's Center for Health Studies, from 2003 to 2004 interviewed a random sample of 3,429 18- to 64-year-old women who were members of Group Health (King, Seattle Times, 5/16). The study finds that women who have been exposed to IPV within the last five years are four times as likely as other women to have symptoms of severe depression and three times as likely to describe their health as fair or poor, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. Robert Thompson, senior investigator for the Center for Health Studies, and colleagues in another AJPM study of the same women found that 44% said they had been sexually, physically or psychologically assaulted by a partner at some point in their life (Davidow, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 5/16). About 8% said they had been abused in the last year, according to the study. "It's an enormous problem that's buried in our society," Thompson said, adding, "It's across the population and has major effects" (Seattle Times, 5/16). Bonomi said, "We need billboards that say, 'Being called names by a partner is hazardous to your health'" (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 5/16).


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