The Association Between Affective and Problem-Solving Communication and Intimate Partner Violence among Caucasian and Mexican American Couples: A Dyadic Approach

The impact of a maternal mental health intervention on intimate partner violence in Northern Ghana and the mediating roles of social support and couple communication: secondary analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUNDS

Diverse intervention efforts are implemented to address intimate partner violence (IPV) against women. Via a syndemics theory lens and emerging empirical evidence, mental health interventions demonstrate promise to partially ameliorate IPV. However, the mechanisms of change underlying many IPV interventions are not well understood. These gaps impede our efforts to strengthen or integrate effective components into the current mental health resources, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aims to examine the impact of a maternal mental health intervention called Integrated Mothers and Babies Course & Early Childhood Development (iMBC/ECD) on IPV and whether social support and/or couple communication mediates the intervention effects among women in rural, Northern Ghana.

METHODS

The current study is a secondary data analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trial. IPV was measured at baseline and 8 months post-intervention (~ 19 months post-baseline). At baseline, 84.8% of the women enrolled in the study (n = 374) reported some type of IPV in the past 12 months. Logistic regression models and multiple mediation analyses were used to address the study aims.

RESULTS

iMBC/ECD did not reduce IPV in the intervention group compared to the control group. Social support and couple communication did not mediate the intervention effects on IPV as indicated by the indirect effects of the multiple mediation models. However, increase in social support reduced women's odds of experiencing emotional violence by 7%, odds ratio (OR) = 0.93, p = 0.007; b = - 0.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) = (- 0.13, - 0.02), and improvement in couple communication demonstrated promise in reducing women's odds of experiencing controlling behaviors by 7%, OR = 0.93, p = 0.07; b = - 0.07, CI = (- 0.14, 0.005), though the improvements were not due to the intervention.

CONCLUSION

This maternal mental health intervention did not reduce IPV; however, the findings extend our knowledge about the impact of such interventions on IPV and the potential mechanisms of change via social support and couple communication. Future research evaluating the impact of mental health interventions on IPV and mechanisms of change is essential for the development of effective interventions. Future programs addressing IPV in LMICs should consider risk factors beyond relationship level (e.g. poverty and gender inequity).

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT03665246 , Registered on August 20th, 2018.

Relationship Dynamics and Intimate Partner Violence Among Israeli College Students: The Moderating Effect of Communication Problems

The present study, based on data from the International Dating Violence Study obtained in 2004 (N = 465) and on data obtained in 2015 (N = 392), estimated the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and perpetration among Israeli college students. The main purpose of the study was to investigate whether communication problems (i.e., avoidant communication and disrespectful communication) intensify the effects of relationship dynamics (dominance, partner's controlling behavior, and jealousy) on physical IPV. A series of χ² analyses, independent t tests, and logistic regressions was conducted separately for each sample. Results revealed that in 2015, approximately 20% of the participants reported being a victim of at least one act of physical violence and more than 10% of the participants reported severely attacking a partner. Although there was a significant decline in the prevalence of the severe type of sexual violence victimization, most of the differences between the samples were not significant. The findings further showed that regardless of gender or age, dominance significantly increased the odds of physical violence perpetration, and partner's controlling behavior significantly increased the odds of physical violence victimization. Finally, the interaction effects that were found suggest that when relationships are characterized by an imbalance of power, communication problems may increase the risk of physical violence. The current study provides initial support for the idea that communication difficulties may contribute to conflict escalation and exacerbate the effects of relationship risk factors on physical IPV.