title: Long Term Mental Health Effects of Partner Violence Patterns and Relationship Termination on Low-Income and Ethnically Diverse Community Women.
abstract: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with psychological distress; however, differences in the impact of unidirectional IPV, typically male-dominated, and bidirectional IPV have not been examined. To address this gap in the literature, we compared the effects of various IPV patterns on women's reports of dissociation, post-traumatic stress disorder, and stress in 6 interviews over eight years. We also examined whether differences by IPV pattern existed in women's mental health upon leaving a violent relationship. The 489 low-income women completing all interviews were African American (40%), Euro-American (30%), and Mexican American (30%), over half of whom (58%) were no longer with Wave 1 partners by Wave 6. In general, worse mental health was associated with relationship termination and bidirectional violence.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of OB/GYN, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555-0587, (409) 747-8560.
authors.forename: Jeff R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Temple
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weston
authors.forename: Linda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Marshall