Abstract P295: Synergistic Effect of Food Insecurity and Intimate Partner Violence on Maternal Depressive Symptoms

Abstract

Background: There are evidence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and food insecurity (FI) as independent predictors of maternal depressive symptoms. However, there are a dearth of studies that have examined how both IPV and FI influence depressive symptoms. The objective of this study was to determine whether IPV, food insecurity, or the combined effect of experiencing both IPV and FI predicted later onset of maternal depressive symptoms. Method: Data over a nine year time span from Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study were used for the current study (N=1421). IPV and FI were both measured at three and five years from the child’s birth. IPV was measured using seven items depicting physical and psychological abuse from spouse/partner. Household FI was measured using the 18-item Food Security Module developed by the United States Department of Agriculture. Four mutually exclusive dichotomous variables were created based on IPV and FI experiences. Mothers who experienced IPV at least at one time but did not experience FI were classified as “IPV only”. Mothers who experienced FI at least at one time but did not experience IPV were classified as “FI only”. Mothers who experienced both IPV and FI at least one time were classified as “both IPV and FI”. The final group “never IPV nor FI” did not experience IPV nor FI. Maternal depressive symptoms at year nine was determined using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short Form. Covariate adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to understand the relation between IPV and FI on onset of depressive symptoms. Results: Twenty-seven percent of the study sample experienced both IPV and FI, 63% IPV only, 4% FI only, and 6% never. At year nine 18% of the mothers reported depressive symptoms. Majority of the sample were non-Hispanic black (52%) or Hispanic (23%), married/cohabiting (57%), and with a high school or higher education (76%). After controlling for age, race/ethnicity, education, marital status, financial strain and prior depressive symptoms, mothers who experienced both IPV and FI during 3-5 years after child’s birth had significantly higher odds of having depressive symptoms at 9 years after child’s birth (OR=2.10, 95% CI: 1.04, 4.27) compared to mothers experiencing neither. The odds of having depressive symptoms among mothers experiencing either IPV only (OR=1.33, 95% CI: 0.67, 2.66) or FI only (OR=2.34, 95% CI: 0.94, 5.86) was not significantly different from mothers experiencing neither. Conclusions: Maternal cumulative experiences of IPV and FI three to five years after child’s birth increased the likelihood of later onset of depressive symptoms. Currently IPV, food insecurity and depression are typically addressed in isolation. Using a trauma-informed approach, combining IPV counselling with public/private food assistance programs might be effective in preventing maternal depressive symptoms later in life.