Article Figures & Data
Tables
- Table 1.
Comparison of Demographic Characteristics by Lifetime Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Status, (n = 210)
Characteristic IPV Positive n=92 (44%) IPV Negative n=118 (56%) P Value Mean age, y, mean (SD) 29.4 (.62) 26.5 (.49) <.001 Poverty index (higher is greater income), mean (SD) 1.43 (1.46) 1.22 (1.31) .09 Employment status, % (No.) Full/part time 53.3 (49) 37.4 (44) .023 Not working 46.7 (43) 62.6 (74) Parity, mean (SD) 2.4 (.20) 1.6 (.16) <.001 Partner status, % (No.) Married 81.5 (75) 93.2 (110) .009 Single/divorced/separated 18.5 (17) 6.8 (8) Birthplace, % (No.) United States 30.4 (28) 18.6 (22) .05 Other 69.6 (64) 81.4 (96) High school diploma, % (No.) No 62.2 (56) 48.2 (54) .05 Yes 37.8 (34) 51.8 (58) Language of interview, % (No.) English 46.7 (43) 33.9 (40) .06 Spanish 53.3 (49) 66.1 (78) - Table 2.
Strengths and Adverse Social Behavioral Circumstances of Latina Women by Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Status, Unadjusted (n = 210)
Strengths and Adverse Circumstances Range IPV Positive (n=92) Mean (SD) IPV Negative (n=118) Mean (SD) P Value Note: Higher scores indicate higher levels. Strengths, mastery 5–20 Higher is better 14.68 (± 2.70) 15.05 (± 2.50) .31 Resilience 6–24 Higher is better 18.17 (± 2.35) 18.55 (± 2.28) .24 Social support 9–45 Higher is better 35.45 (± 8.51) 38.59 (± 5.80) .002 Active coping 6–30 Higher is better 17.67 (± .51) 15.08 (± .51) <.001 Adverse risks, social undermining 7–35 Higher is worse 14.36 (± 0.79) 9.56 (± 0.55) <.001 Perceived stress 4–20 Higher is worse 8.89 (± 0.36) 7.52 (± 0.31) <.004 Non-IPV trauma history 1–6 Higher is worse 1.90 (± 1.89) 0.92 (± 1.47) <.001 Non-IPV trauma history (<2 trauma events), % 57.9 80.5 <.001 Non-IPV trauma history (≥2 trauma events), % 42.1 19.5 <.001 Smoking 3 mo before pregnancy, % … 7.6 3.39 .17 Alcohol use 3 mo before pregnancy, % … 28.3 16.1 .03 Outcome IPV Positive (n=92) % (n) IPV Negative (n=118) % (n) P Value PTSD = posttraumatic stress disorder. Depression 41.3 (38) 18.6 (22) <.001 PTSD 16.3 (15) 7.6 (9) <.001 Variables Adjusted OR 95% CI P Value CI = confidence interval; IPV = intimate partner violence; OR = odds ratio; PTSD = posttraumatic stress disorder. Depression (n=204) Mastery 0.72 0.62–0.84 <.001 Trauma history (other than IPV) 1.33 1.08–1.63 .008 IPV status 2.43 1.16–5.11 .02 Age 0.99 0.94–1.06 .85 Language 0.80 0.36–1.77 .58 Site 0.78 0.34–1.76 .54 PTSD (n=177) Perceived stress 1.72 1.34–2.20 <.001 Trauma history 1.45 1.03–2.04 .03 Poverty index 0.10 0.02–0.63 .01 IPV status 3.91 0.91–16.88 .07 Resilience 1.16 0.83–1.61 .38 Language 1.82 0.42–7.90 .42 Age 0.96 0.84–1.10 .54 Site 1.69 0.31–9.36 .55
Additional Files
The Article in Brief
Intimate Partner Violence, Depression, and PTSD among Pregnant Latina Women
Michael A. Rodriguez, MD, MPH , and colleagues
Background Among Latinas in the United States, approximately 6% experience intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy and 5% experience IPV in the period just before or after giving birth. This study describes factors related to depression or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among pregnant Latinas in Los Angeles, California, with and without exposure to IPV.
What This Study Found Pregnant Latinas who are exposed to IPV are more than twice as likely to report high levels of symptoms of depression or posttraumatic stress disorder compared with other pregnant Latinas. They also report being exposed to more trauma (such as child abuse), social undermining (anger, criticism, insults), and stress with less social support. Despite such adversity, Latinas exposed to IPV report similar levels of resilience and mastery as their counterparts, and they engage in more active coping behaviors.
Implications
- These results affirm the link between mental health and trauma and emphasize the importance of screening Latina patients for violence and mental health status.
- Focusing on how Latinas can utilize their own strengths to confront these complex issues may result in strategies that are culturally appropriate and effective in powerfully personal ways.
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