Impact of Intimate Partner Violence on Women's Health-Related Quality of Life
Author Information
Author(s): Wittenberg Eve, Joshi Manisha, Thomas Kristie A, McCloskey Laura A
Primary Institution: Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University
Hypothesis
Certain domains of health affected by intimate partner violence may not be included in commonly-used HRQOL measures.
Conclusion
Intimate partner violence significantly affects women's emotional and psychological health, which is often underrepresented in health-related quality of life measures.
Supporting Evidence
- Women reported that emotional and psychological health were the most affected domains due to intimate partner violence.
- Existing HRQOL measures inadequately capture the psychological impacts of intimate partner violence.
- Children's experiences of witnessing abuse significantly affect their mothers' quality of life.
Takeaway
This study shows that being hurt by a partner can make women feel very sad and stressed, and this isn't always measured in health surveys.
Methodology
Focus groups with abused women were conducted to discuss the health impacts of intimate partner violence and compare findings with existing HRQOL measures.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data may lead to underreporting of abuse and its impacts.
Limitations
The study's findings may not be generalizable due to the small, specific sample of women from one urban area.
Participant Demographics
Participants were primarily African American women, average age 43, mostly unemployed, with an average of 3 children.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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