Risk factors of anxiety and depressive symptoms in female patients experiencing intimate partner violence in Poland

Abstract

IntroductionThere is an evidence indicating that women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) quite common suffer from anxiety and depression, but predictors and protective factors are not well known in this group of patients.AimThe aim of the study was to try to find factor that are connected with higher rates of anxiety and depressive symptoms in the group of female patients experiencing IPV.MethodThe study was conducted in six randomly selected centers of primary health care (PHCs) in Lublin province. One hundred and two female patients experiencing IPV were administered a structured questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The sequential models were created with using backward stepwise multiple regression to investigate potential risk and protective factors connected with higher rates of anxiety and depression symptom in the group.ResultsIn a study group, 68% in Anxiety Subscale(A) and 56% in Depression Subscale of HADS (D) had positive scores. Living in the country (P = 0.003) was connected with higher scores in HADS-A (P = 0.003) but not in HADS-D. Experiencing physical violence was connected with higher score in HADS-D (P = 0.005), but not in HADS-A. Chronic physical illness (A P = 0.013; D P = 0.015), being unemployed (A P = 0.024; B P = 0.008), and experiencing economic violence (A P < 0.001; D P = 0.001) were connected with higher stores in both Subscales of HADS. Taking financial support (A P = 0.002, D P = 0.003) was the protective factor for both kinds of symptoms.ConclusionsSocio-economic factors have stronger influence on anxiety and depressive symptoms in women experiencing IPV than demographic factors.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.