title: Relationships between Psychosocial Difficulties and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Women Subject to Intimate Partner Violence.
abstract: Women subject to violence by their intimate partners often experience a range of psychosocial problems such as depression, excessive alcohol use, and stressful life events that, in turn, lead to health issues. This study examined psychosocial difficulties and oxidative stress levels in abused and non-abused Korean women and analyzed the relationship between psychosocial outcomes and oxidative stress levels. Markers were determined in 16 women (seven abused, nine non-abused). The two groups of women (abused and non-abused) were compared with respect to scores in depression, alcohol use, life stress events, and oxidative stress biomarkers using the Mann-Whitney U test. Correlations between depression, alcohol use, life stress events, and oxidative stress biomarkers were tested by the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. The abused women had significantly higher levels of oxidative stress markers and significantly lower levels of antioxidants than the non-abused women. Life stress events and oxidative biomarker levels were significantly correlated. These findings have implications for both social services providers and medical personnel when assessing abused women to ensure that they receive the most appropriate service.
authors.affiliation: Professor, School of Social Welfare, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Yop
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Assistant professor, Department of Social Work, Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hyeon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Researcher, Social Welfare Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyang Joo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Goo
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Yeong Shin
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yim
mesh_terms: D018585:Battered Women; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: intimate partner violence; oxidative stress biomarkers; psychosocial difficulties; women