Unemployment among women: examining the relationship of physical and psychological intimate partner violence and posttraumatic stress disorder.
Prior research has demonstrated that intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with employment instability among poor women. The current study assesses the broader relationship between IPV and women's workforce participation in a population-based sample of 6,698 California women. We examined past-year IPV by analyzing specific effects of physical violence, psychological violence, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as predictors of unemployment. Results indicated substantial rates of unemployment among women who reported IPV, with rates of 20% among women who experienced psychological violence, 18% among women who experienced physical violence, and 19% among women with PTSD symptoms. When the relationship was adjusted for demographic characteristics and educational attainment, PTSD (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22, 2.09) and psychological violence (AOR = 1.78; 95% CI = 1.36, 2.32), but not physical violence, were associated with unemployment. Implications for supported employment programs and workplace responses to IPV are discussed.
Kimerling
Rachel
R
VA Palo Alto Health Care System, National Center for PTSD (PTSD-334), 795 Willow Road, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, CA 94025, USA. Rachel.Kimerling@va.gov
Alvarez
Jennifer
J
Pavao
Joanne
J
Mack
Katelyn P
KP
Smith
Mark W
MW
Baumrind
Nikki
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016387:Women's Health