Dangerous Intimate Partner Relationships and Women’s Mental Health and Health Behaviors

This study investigated the relationship between dangerousness in intimate partner relationships & victims’ mental health &/or health behaviour problems. Health records of 387 women in a domestic violence shelter were reviewed. Of these, 177 were eligible for this study. Higher dangerousness assessment scores were significantly associated with mental health symptoms & health behavaiours, including anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, suicide attempts, weight gain, past history of smoking & past illicit drug use. (18 refs.)