Citation

Brown SJ, Mensah F, Giallo R, Woolhouse H, Hegarty K, Nicholson JM, Gartland D. J. Affect. Disord. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Australia; University of Melbourne, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jad.2019.11.015

PMID

31732279

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and maternal mental health ten years after a first birth METHODS: 1507 first-time mothers completed questionnaires at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months postpartum and 4 and ten years post the index birth. Exposure to IPV was assessed using the Composite Abuse Scale at 1, 4 and ten years. Standardised measures of depressive (CES-D), anxiety (BAI) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PCL-C) were completed at ten-year follow-up.

RESULTS: One in three (34%) women experienced IPV between the birth of their first child and their child turning 10. For the one in six women (18.6%) who experienced IPV in the year prior to ten-year follow-up, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 38.9% compared with 14.2% for women who never reported IPV (adjusted odds ratio [AdjOR] 2.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9-4.5). Prevalence of anxiety symptoms was 28.1% compared with 8.5% (AdjOR 3.4, 95% CI 2.0-5.9); and prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms was 41.9% compared with 11.3% (AdjOR 4.9, 95% CI 3.0-7.9). LIMITATIONS: Mental health symptoms and exposure to IPV were assessed by self-report and may be subject to misclassification bias as a result of non-disclosure.

CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of mental health symptoms among women exposed to IPV in the ten years after giving birth coupled with the extent of post-traumatic stress symptoms and co-morbid mental health symptoms reinforce the need to provide appropriate care and referral pathways to women in the decade after having a baby. Recognition of the context of IPV and nature of mental health concerns is needed in tailoring responses.

Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Language: en

Keywords

PTSD; intimate partner violence; maternal mental health; prospective cohort