The Long Shadow of Intimate Partner Violence: Associations of Mental and Physical Health With Employment, Housing, and Demographic Factors

Reinie Cordier; Yu-Wei Chen; Donna Chung; Natasha Mahoney; Robyn Martin; Kate Dorozenko; Suzanne Franzway; Nicole Moulding; Sarah Wendt; Carole Zufferey

doi:10.1177/10778012231181044

The Long Shadow of Intimate Partner Violence: Associations of Mental and Physical Health With Employment, Housing, and Demographic Factors

Violence Against Women. 2023 Jun 15;30(5):10778012231181044. doi: 10.1177/10778012231181044. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Reinie Cordier^{1

2

3}, Yu-Wei Chen⁴, Donna Chung², Natasha Mahoney², Robyn Martin^{2

5}, Kate Dorozenko², Suzanne Franzway⁶, Nicole Moulding⁷, Sarah Wendt⁸, Carole Zufferey⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumbria University, UK.
² School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
³ Department of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
⁴ Discipline of Occupational Therapy, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
⁵ School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁶ School of Creative Industries, University of South Australia, South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
⁷ Justice and Society, University of South Australia, South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
⁸ College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.

Abstract

Ongoing health issues influence the postseparation lives of survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). This study identified associations between health following IPV and demographic, housing, employment, and social participation factors. Survivors of IPV in Australia were surveyed. Logistic regression assessed factors of interest with physical and mental health conditions. Six hundred and fifty-eight women participated. Physical health issues were associated with reduced skills and confidence in employment. A mental health diagnosis was associated with women not working as desired and lower incomes. Screening for health impacts and longer-term responses to women could reduce the long shadow of IPV impacts.

Keywords: citizenship; housing‌; intimate partner violence; mental health; physical health.