The Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence on Health: A Further Disaggregation of Psychological Violence—Evidence From Spain

• Published in: Violence against women Vol. 23; no. 14; pp. 1771 - 1789
• Main Authors: Domenech del Rio, Ines, Sirvent Garcia del Valle, Elena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-12-2017; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anxiety - epidemiology; Anxiety - etiology; Crime Victims - psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Domestic violence; Emotional abuse; Female; Females; Health behavior; Health Status; Humans; Intimate partner violence; Intimate Partner Violence - psychology; Life Change Events; Long term; Medical personnel; Prevalence; Sex crimes; Sex Offenses - psychology; Sexual violence; Spain - epidemiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Timing; Women; Womens health; Spain; intimate partner violence; health; emotional abuse; economic abuse; physical or sexual violence; controlling behavior
• ISSN: 1077-8012; 1552-8448
• DOI: 10.1177/1077801216671220

Using a nationally representative sample of 10,171 women, this study examines the association between current and previous intimate partner violence and current health status. Current physical or sexual violence was associated with the highest likelihood of reporting health outcomes, followed by current emotional or economic abuse. Current controlling behavior increased the odds of reporting poor health whereas previous controlling behavior has less effect on current health. Controlling behavior alone often is the first expression of mistreatment. If health professionals could identify violence at this early stage, long-term effects on women’s health could be minimized. The implications for health of the cumulative effects of violence and of its timing are discussed.