Psychological and Physical Intimate Partner Aggression Are Associated with Broad and Specific Internalizing Symptoms during Pregnancy.

Gabriela R Perez,Sara M Stasik-O’Brien,Lauren M Laifer,Rebecca L Brock

doi:10.3390/ijerph19031662

Abstract

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) has serious consequences, particularly during high-risk periods such as pregnancy, which poses a significant risk to maternal mental health. However, it is unclear whether IPV presents a broad risk for psychopathology or is specific to distinct diagnoses or symptom dimensions (e.g., panic, social anxiety). Further, the relative impact of physical versus psychological aggression remains unclear. Methods: One hundred and fifty-nine pregnant couples completed surveys assessing psychological and physical intimate partner aggression unfolding in the couple relationship, as well as a range of internalizing symptoms. Results: Psychological and physical aggression were each associated with broad negative affectivity, which underlies mood and anxiety disorders; however, only psychological aggression demonstrated a unique association. Further, for pregnant women, aggression was uniquely associated with several symptom dimensions characteristic of PTSD. In contrast, men demonstrated a relatively heterogeneous symptom presentation in relation to aggression. Conclusion: The present study identifies unique symptom manifestations associated with IPV for couples navigating pregnancy and suggests psychological aggression can be more detrimental to mental health than physical aggression. To promote maternal perinatal mental health, clinicians should screen for covert forms of psychological aggression during pregnancy (e.g., raised voices, insults), trauma-related distress, and symptom elevations in women and their partners.

Highlights

IntroductionIntimate partner violence (IPV) affects many couples worldwide and is primarily studied in the forms of psychological aggression (e.g., insulting, shouting at, or swearing at a partner) and physical aggression (e.g., pushing, slapping, or punching a partner) [1,2].In the United States (US), over one in three women experience some form of IPV during their lifetimes, with upwards of 6 million women experiencing IPV each year [3]
Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects many couples worldwide and is primarily studied in the forms of psychological aggression and physical aggression [1,2].In the United States (US), over one in three women experience some form of IPV during their lifetimes, with upwards of 6 million women experiencing IPV each year [3]
The present study demonstrated that more frequent psychological aggression during arguments between intimate partners and any occurrence of physical aggression were associated with higher levels of negative affectivity during pregnancy for women and their partners

Summary

Introduction

Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects many couples worldwide and is primarily studied in the forms of psychological aggression (e.g., insulting, shouting at, or swearing at a partner) and physical aggression (e.g., pushing, slapping, or punching a partner) [1,2].In the United States (US), over one in three women experience some form of IPV during their lifetimes, with upwards of 6 million women experiencing IPV each year [3]. Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects many couples worldwide and is primarily studied in the forms of psychological aggression (e.g., insulting, shouting at, or swearing at a partner) and physical aggression (e.g., pushing, slapping, or punching a partner) [1,2]. Intimate partner violence (IPV) has serious consequences, during high-risk periods such as pregnancy, which poses a significant risk to maternal mental health. It is unclear whether IPV presents a broad risk for psychopathology or is specific to distinct diagnoses or symptom dimensions (e.g., panic, social anxiety). Conclusion: The present study identifies unique symptom manifestations associated with IPV for couples navigating pregnancy and suggests psychological aggression can be more detrimental to mental health than physical aggression

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