Health Sciences

Domestic Violence and Health

Researchers:Dr Deborah Loxton, Professor Margot Schofield, and Dr Rafat Hussain

Funding: Department of Health and Ageing

Research Partners:University of Newcastle, Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing; University of New England

Summary

This study examined the physical and psychological health correlates of domestic violence in a large random sample of mid-aged Australian women (N = 11,310, age 47 to 52 years). Logistic regressions were used to investigate the associations between domestic violence and depression, anxiety, and psychological wellbeing, after adjusting for demographic variables (marital status, income management, area). Results indicate increased odds of having experienced domestic violence for those who had: ever experienced a diagnosis of depression, anxiety, or an "other" psychiatric disorder; recent symptoms of depression and anxiety; used psychoactive medication for depression or anxiety in the 4 weeks prior to the survey; and who reported current depression. Current psychological well-being had an inverse association with a history of domestic violence: As psychological well-being decreased, the odds of having ever experienced domestic violence increased. The results indicate that a history of domestic violence is associated with decreased psychological well-being in mid-aged Australian women.

The association between domestic violence and physical health in middle-aged Australian women was investigated by adjusting for demographic and health behaviour characteristics and menopause status in multivariate analyses. Various physical conditions (allergies or breathing problems, pain or fatigue, bowel problems, vaginal discharge, eyesight and hearing problems, low iron, asthma, bronchitis or emphysema, cervical cancer) were associated with domestic violence. The results highlight the link between health and domestic violence in middle-aged women and underscore the need for health professionals to take a full social history from women presenting with physical symptoms.

Status of the project: Completed

Research Outputs to date:

Conference Presentations

Loxton, D., Hussain, R., & Schofield, M. (2003). Women's experiences of domestic abuse in rural and remote Australia. Paper presented at the 7th National Rural Health Conference, Hobart, March.

Loxton, D., Schofield, MJ., & Hussain, R. (2005). Factors that mediate the relationship between intimate partner violence and mental health among mid-aged Australian women. Paper presented at the Australian Women's Health Conference, Melbourne, April.

Loxton, D., Powers, J., Schofield, M.J., & Hussain, R. (2005). Gynaecological health among mid-aged women who have experienced partner violence. Paper presented at the 14th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian Epidemiological Association, Newcastle, 6-7 October.

Publications

Loxton, D., Hussain, R, & Schofield, M. (2003). Women's experiences of domestic abuse in rural and remote Australia. Conference Proceedings of the 7th National Rural Health Conference, Hobart, March. Accessed: www.nrha.net.au/nrhapublic/publicdocs/conferences/7thNRHC/Papers/refereed%20IO%20papers/loxton.pdf.

Loxton, D., Schofield, M.J., & Hussain, R. (2004). History of domestic violence and health service use among mid-aged Australian women. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 28(4), 383-388.

Loxton, D., Schofield, M.J., Hussain, R., & Mishra, G. (2006). History of domestic violence and physical health in midlife. Violence Against Women, 12(8), 715-731. DOI: 10.1177/1077801206291483.

Loxton, D., Schofield, M.J., & Hussain, R. (2006). Psychological health in mid-life women who have ever lived with a violent partner or spouse. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 21(8), 1-16. DOI 10.1177/0895904805285290.