title: The incidence of wife abuse and mental health status in abused wives in Edmonton, Alberta.
abstract: To determine the incidence and type of wife abuse in relation to mental health status, a survey was undertaken in a community-based sample of wives. The incidence rate of physical abuse was 10.6%, psychological abuse 13.1%. Nearly all physically abused wives were psychologically abused. Wives at highest risk of abuse were those: 1) separated from their husbands in the previous year; 2) aged 18-44 years; 3) in relatively new relationships; 4) whose husbands were unemployed, in school or working part-time. Physically and psychologically abused wives had more somatic complaints, higher levels of anxiety and insomnia, greater social dysfunction and more symptoms of depression than non-abused wives. Alcohol dependency was associated with abuse; 16.3% of physically abused and 11.3% of psychologically abused wives were alcohol-dependent, compared to 2.4% of non-abused wives.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing University of Alberta, Edmonton.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ratner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007182:Income; D017533:Marital Status; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014478:Unemployment; D016387:Women's Health