title: Violence in adulthood and mental health: gender and immigrant status.
abstract: The aim of this study was to describe perceived abuse in adult Spanish and Ecuadorian women and men and to assess its association with mental health. A population-based survey was conducted in Spain in 2006. Data were taken from a probabilistic sample allowing for an equal number of men and women, Spaniards and Ecuadorians. Mental disorder was measured with the General Health Questionnaire-28. The nine questions on exposure to physical, sexual, and psychological abuse during the previous year were self-administered. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association between exposure to abuse and poor mental health, adjusting for potential confounders. The sample was composed of 1,059 individuals aged 18 to 54, 104 of whom reported physical, psychological, or sexual abuse. Some 6% refused to answer the questions on abuse. Overall, reported abuse ranged from 13% in Ecuadorian women to 5% in Spanish men. Psychological abuse was the most frequent. Half the abused women, both Spanish and Ecuadorian, reported intimate partner violence (IPV), as did 22% of abused men. Poor mental health was found in 61% of abused Spanish women (adjusted Odds Ratio [ORa] = 5.1; 95% CI: 1.8-14.4), and 62% abused Ecuadorian women (ORa = 4; 95% CI: 2-7.9), in 36% of abused Spanish men (ORa = 3; 95% CI: 0.9-10.7) and in 30% abused Ecuadorian men (ORa = 2.8; 95% CI: 1-7.7). Interpersonal violence is frequent in relations with the partner, the family, and outside the family, and it seriously affects the mental health. Ecuadorian women stand out as the most vulnerable group.
authors: Carlos III Institute of Public Health, Madrid, Spain. dalvarez@isciii.es
authors: Debora
authors: D
authors: Alvarez-del Arco
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: del Amo
authors: Rocio
authors: R
authors: Garcia-Pina
authors: Ana Maria
authors: AM
authors: Garcia-Fulgueiras
authors: M Angeles
authors: MA
authors: Rodriguez-Arenas
authors: Vicente
authors: V
authors: Ibañez-Rojo
authors: Domingo
authors: D
authors: Díaz-del Peral
authors: Inma
authors: I
authors: Jarrin
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Fernandez-Liria
authors: Maria Victoria
authors: MV
authors: Zunzunegui
authors: Visitación
authors: V
authors: Garcia-Ortuzar
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Mazarrasa
authors: Alicia
authors: A
authors: Llacer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004484:Ecuador; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013030:Spain; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: anything related to domestic violence; domestic violence; mental health and violence; violence exposure