Perceptions of Health Status and the Relationship With Abuse History and Mental Health in Low-Income Single Mothers

Abstract

This article examines the relationships among maternal abuse experiences, psychosocial factors, and perceptions of health status in a sample of 59 low-income mothers with young children. Data were collected in the first wave of a 3-wave panel study during structured in-home interviews. Sixty-four percent of the sample reported some form of childhood abuse, with approximately 41% of the women reporting an abusive relationship during the past 12 months. More than 59% of the mothers reported high depressive symptoms, but few women had received mental health treatment. High everyday stressors and high depressive symptoms were associated with poorer perceptions of maternal and child health status. Histories of abuse were not associated with levels of self-esteem. Nurses working with low-income single mothers must evaluate mothers’ risk status relative to mental health and family violence on an ongoing basis and provide appropriate treatment or referral.