title: Intimate partner violence and diurnal cortisol patterns in couples.
abstract: This study examined whether physical intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization was associated with diurnal patterns of salivary cortisol in a community sample of 122 couples in their 30s from predominantly lower socioeconomic status backgrounds. Findings indicate that women with higher levels of victimization exhibited flatter patterns of diurnal cortisol characterized by both higher midday levels and more attenuated decreases in cortisol levels across the day, compared to women with lower levels of victimization. However, men's victimization was not associated with their diurnal cortisol levels. This study advances our understanding of the association between physical IPV victimization and dysregulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning in women, which is likely to have further implications for their subsequent mental and physical health.
authors.affiliation: Oregon Social Learning Center, 10 Shelton McMurphey Blvd, Eugene, OR 97401, USA. Electronic address: hyounk@oslc.org.
authors.forename: Hyoun K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Oregon Social Learning Center, 10 Shelton McMurphey Blvd, Eugene, OR 97401, USA.
authors.forename: Stacey S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Tiberio
authors.affiliation: Oregon Social Learning Center, 10 Shelton McMurphey Blvd, Eugene, OR 97401, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Capaldi
authors.affiliation: Oregon Social Learning Center, 10 Shelton McMurphey Blvd, Eugene, OR 97401, USA.
authors.forename: Joann Wu
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Shortt
authors.affiliation: University of Oregon, 1321 Kincaid Street, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
authors.forename: Erica C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Squires
authors.affiliation: University of Oregon, 1321 Kincaid Street, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
authors.forename: J Josh
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Snodgrass
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D019548:Crime Victims; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012923:Social Class; D013179:Spouse Abuse; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Cortisol; Couples; Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis; Intimate partner violence (IPV); Physical aggression; Victimization