Intimate partner abuse factors associated with women's health: a general population study

Abstract

Aim: This paper is a report of a study to investigate the correlates of physical and psychological health in a general population-based sample of Icelandic women who experienced abuse in close relationships.

Background: Most studies examining the health concerns associated with intimate partner abuse have been based on clinical populations; however, their findings may not be representative of the general population of women experiencing intimate partner abuse.

Method: A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted. The Women's Response to Battering Model was used to guide the choice of variables. Questionnaires were mailed to 7523 randomly-selected Icelandic women. Data collection started in December 2005 and ended a year later. A total of 1974 married and 772 cohabiting women answered the questionnaires (n = 2746). Independent t-tests and stepwise regression were used to analyse the data.

Findings: Health risk behaviours (e.g. alcohol misuse, smoking), chronic health conditions/illnesses (e.g. sleep disturbance, depression, eating disorders) and currently being victim of intimate partner violence predicted the women's physical and psychological health.

Conclusion: Interventions designed to decrease health risk behaviours, treat chronic health conditions/illnesses and offer best practice first response to women who are victims of intimate partner violence can be offered to reduce the short- and long-term effects of violence on their physical and psychological health. Public health policy needs to focus specifically on intimate partner violence against women and the role that public health nurses can have in early identification and offering appropriate interventions within primary healthcare settings.