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Intimate Partner Violence and Comorbid Mental Health Conditions Among Urban Male Patients

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine and The School of Social Policy & Practice University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
² Center for Injury Control, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
³ Laboratory of Interpersonal Violence and Victimization, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
⁴ Cook County (John H. Stroger, Jr) Hospital, Chicago, Illinois
⁵ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
⁶ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University at Albany, SUNY, Albany, New York

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Karin Rhodes, MD, MS, Department of Emergency Medicine & The School of Social Policy & Practice, 3815 Walnut, Room 201, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19014, kvr{at}sp2.upenn.edu

PURPOSE We wanted to explore the associations between intimate partner violence (IPV) and comorbid health conditions, which have received little attention in male patients.

METHODS Using a computer-based self-assessment health questionnaire, we screened sequential emergency department patients who were urban, male, and aged 18 to 55 years. We then examined associations between types of IPV disclosures, co-occurring mental health symptoms, and adverse health behaviors.

RESULTS Of 1,669 men seeking nonurgent health care, 1,122 (67.2%) consented to be screened, and 1,026 (91%) completed the screening; 712 (63%) were in a relationship in the past year. Of these men, 261 (37%) disclosed IPV: 20% (n = 144) disclosed victimization only, 6% (n = 40) disclosed perpetration only, and 11% (n= 77) disclosed bidirectional IPV (defined as both victimization and perpetration in their relationships). Men disclosing both victimization and perpetration had the highest frequencies and levels of adverse mental health symptoms. Rates of smoking, alcohol abuse, and drug use were likewise higher in IPV-involved men.

CONCLUSIONS A cumulative risk of poor mental health and adverse health behaviors was associated with IPV disclosures. Self-disclosure by men seeking acute health care provides the potential for developing tools to assess level of risk and to guide tailored interventions and referrals based on the sex of the patient.

Key Words: Male intimate partner violence • violence and mental health • behavioral health risks • preventive health screening • aggression • interpersonal relations • violence • health risk appraisal • health surveys

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