Intimate partner violence and Its Relationship with Psychological Distress Among Older Asian Americans: Results from the California Health Interview Survey

The impact of intimate partner violence on depressive symptoms among college students: A moderated mediation model of the big five personality traits and perceived social support

BACKGROUND

Previous study has identified a connection between intimate partner violence (IPV) and depressive symptoms. However, the underlying mechanisms of this connection have not yet been well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of big five personality traits and perceived social support on the association between IPV and depressive symptoms among Chinese college students.

METHODS

A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among college students in 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, and 4 municipalities in China from June to August 2022. Intimate Partner Violence Questionnaire was used to measure the frequency of exposure to IPV. The big five personality traits were measured by 10-item Big Five Inventory, Perceptive Social Support Scale-3 items was used to estimate the degree of perceived social support and the data on depressive symptoms were collected by Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items. We used data from the "Psychology and Behavior Investigation of Chinese Residents in 2022", which includes 6686 valid questionnaires of college students. The PROCESS macro developed by Hayes was utilized to perform moderated mediation analysis.

RESULTS

Among college students, IPV had a significant direct impact on depressive symptoms. Extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness and neuroticism mediated the association between IPV and depressive symptoms (β = -0.08, P < 0.001; β = -0.08, P < 0.001; β = -0.14, P < 0.001; β = 0.20, P < 0.001). Perceived social support significantly moderated the mediating role of the big five personality traits between IPV and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, perceived social support moderated the direct relationship between IPV and depressive symptoms (β = 0.34, P < 0.001), as well as the indirect path of extroversion, agreeableness, neuroticism and the first half of the mediating role of conscientiousness. Moreover, perceived social support was one of the preventive factors that could effectively mitigate the harmful effects of IPV, neuroticism and depressive symptoms.

LIMITATIONS

As this was a cross-sectional study, we were unable to investigate causal relationships between variables. The prevalence of IPV and depressive symptoms were self-reported by the college students, and there may be reporting bias. Additionally, this study only explored the influence and mechanism from the integrated dimension of IPV and PSSS, due to spatial constraints.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings contribute to the existing understanding by clarifying the fundamental mechanisms linking IPV and depressive symptoms. These results may serve as a valuable reference for the Chinese government to improve mental health among college students.

Associations of history of intimate partner violence with mental ill-health and lifestyle factors in middle-aged and older men and women in South Africa

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the association between history of intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure and mental and lifestyle factors among middle-aged and older men and women in rural South Africa.

METHODS

The analysis utilized data from wave 3 of the longitudinal Health and Ageing in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa (HAALSI) (n = 3,707, median age 66 years, range 46-118 years). History of IPV was assessed with five questions on physical, sexual, psychological, and economic IPV. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between history of IPV exposure and mental and lifestyle factors.

RESULTS

Among men 7.8% and among women 10.9% reported a history of IPV. In terms of mental health outcomes, in the final adjusted model, among men, exposure to 1 and/or 2-4 types of IPV were associated with depressive symptoms, insomnia symptoms, PTSD, and loneliness, while among women, exposure to 1 and/or 2-4 types of IPV was associated with insomnia symptoms and PTSD. In terms of lifestyle outcomes, in the final adjusted model, among men, 2-4 types of IPV were associated current tobacco use, current heavy alcohol use, inadequate fruit intake, and food insecurity, and among women, 1 and/or 2-4 types of IPV were associated with soft drink intake, and food insecurity.

CONCLUSION

We found that lifetime exposure to IPV was associated with several mental and lifestyle factors in middle-aged and older men and women. Enhanced screening and treatment of IPV may reduce poor mental and health risk behavior among this aging male and female population in South Africa.