TY - JOUR
T1 - Victimization Experiences, Substance Misuse, and Mental Health Problems in Relation to Risk for Lethality Among African American and African Caribbean Women
AU - Sabri, Bushra
AU - Stockman, Jamila K.
AU - Bertrand, Desiree R.
AU - Campbell, Doris W.
AU - Callwood, Gloria B.
AU - Campbell, Jacquelyn C.
PY - 2013/11
Y1 - 2013/11
N2 - The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of intimate partner victimization experiences, mental health (MH), and substance misuse problems with the risk for lethality among women of African descent. Data for this cross-sectional study were derived from a large case-control study examining the relationship between abuse status and health consequences. Women were recruited from primary care, prenatal, or family planning clinics in Baltimore and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Logistic regression was used to generate the study findings. Among 543 abused women, physical and psychological abuse by intimate partners, comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms, and PTSD-only problems significantly increased the likelihood of lethality risk. However, victims' substance misuse and depression-only problems were not associated with the risk for lethality. In addition, PTSD symptoms mediated the relationship between severe victimization experiences and risk for lethality. Practitioners should pay attention to victimization experiences and MH issues when developing treatment and safety plans. Policies to fund integrated services for African American and African Caribbean women with victimization and related MH issues, and training of providers to identify at-risk women may help reduce the risk for lethality in intimate partner relationships.
AB - The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of intimate partner victimization experiences, mental health (MH), and substance misuse problems with the risk for lethality among women of African descent. Data for this cross-sectional study were derived from a large case-control study examining the relationship between abuse status and health consequences. Women were recruited from primary care, prenatal, or family planning clinics in Baltimore and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Logistic regression was used to generate the study findings. Among 543 abused women, physical and psychological abuse by intimate partners, comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms, and PTSD-only problems significantly increased the likelihood of lethality risk. However, victims' substance misuse and depression-only problems were not associated with the risk for lethality. In addition, PTSD symptoms mediated the relationship between severe victimization experiences and risk for lethality. Practitioners should pay attention to victimization experiences and MH issues when developing treatment and safety plans. Policies to fund integrated services for African American and African Caribbean women with victimization and related MH issues, and training of providers to identify at-risk women may help reduce the risk for lethality in intimate partner relationships.
KW - PTSD
KW - depression
KW - lethality risk
KW - victimization
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84884679841&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84884679841&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0886260513496902
DO - 10.1177/0886260513496902
M3 - Article
C2 - 23929602
AN - SCOPUS:84884679841
SN - 0886-2605
VL - 28
SP - 3223
EP - 3241
JO - Journal of Interpersonal Violence
JF - Journal of Interpersonal Violence
IS - 16
ER -