Intimate Partner Violence, Psychological Distress, and Suicidality: a Path Model Using Data From African American Women Seeking Care in an Urban Emergency Department

This study investigated whether or not intimate partner violence & suicide ideation are correlated in urban African American women, & if the link is explained by symptoms of depression & posttraumatic stress disorder. With 323 abused African American women, path analysis revealed that intimate partner violence led to depressive symptoms which led to suicide ideation, & intimate partner violence led to posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms which led to depressive symptoms & suicide ideation in turn. Interventions to reduce suicidal behaviour in abused, low income African American women should reduce symptoms of depression & posttraumatic stress disorder. (84 refs.) JA