Psychiatry · Obstetrics & Gynecology · Public Health ·
Meta-analysis links intimate partner violence with mental disorders in women
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 82 observational studies involving 140,286 women found associations between intimate partner violence (IPV) and depression and anxiety across general, pregnant and postpartum populations. The strength and certainty of evidence varied by exposure timing and population.
- Review included 82 studies and 140,286 women.
- IPV was associated with depression across life stages.
- Pregnancy IPV was associated with depression and anxiety.
- Evidence certainty varied; observational data cannot establish causation.
Researchers searched six databases for cross-sectional, case–control and cohort studies published from 1980 to June 2024. The review included 82 studies and 140,286 women, and used random-effects models to estimate associations between IPV and mental disorders across general, pregnant and postpartum populations.
Among women in the general population, lifetime IPV was associated with depression (odds ratio [OR] 2.26, 95% CI 1.83–2.79). Past-year IPV was associated with depression (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.61–3.45) and anxiety (OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.61–5.05). In pregnant women, IPV during pregnancy was associated with depression (OR 3.59, 95% CI 2.48–5.20) and anxiety (OR 3.27, 95% CI 2.60–4.10). Among postpartum women, lifetime IPV was associated with depression (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.54–2.83).
The findings support an association between IPV and mental disorders, but do not establish causation. Evidence certainty differed across outcomes, with some estimates rated low or very low. The authors also report associations with eating disorders in their overall conclusions, but the supplied results do not provide corresponding estimates. The review synthesised observational studies, so it does not show whether any particular clinical intervention improves outcomes.
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The British Journal of Psychiatry: Intimate partner violence and its association with mental disorders among women in the general population, pregnant women and postpartum women: systematic review and meta-analysis ↗This is an automated AI-condensed summary that has not yet been reviewed by an editor. Always consult the full item at the original source.