Intimate Partner Relationships Research Articles

Humanitarian well-being: Addressing the intimate partner to promote humanitarian well-being, a literature review

Humanitarians are critical players in alleviating suffering worldwide. As a result of their willingness to put themselves in challenging, often dangerous environments, humanitarians are at high risk for negative mental health outcomes. Addressing humanitarian mental health effectively must consider the well-being of the intimate partner. The paper reviews the literature on humanitarian mental health, the protective nature of social support, the relevance of the intimate partner as a provider of social support, and outcome research on interventions that increase social support through the inclusion of the intimate partner. This paper draws comparisons between military and humanitarian intimate partners and provides information on the military’s research and programming as a model for humanitarian organisations to consider. One of the most effective ways to improve humanitarian mental health is to increase the well-being of the intimate partner and intimate relationship. Key implications for practice The humanitarian context can lead to high levels of poor mental health outcomes. Humanitarian distress and attrition has a negative impact on an organization's mission effectiveness and bottom-line. One of the most effective ways to improve humanitarian mental health is to increase the well-being of the intimate partner and intimate relationship.

Violence, Emotionally Abusive and Controlling Behaviour in Intimate Partner Relationships

This study focused on intimate partner violence (IPV) in relationships in the Bindura urban of Zimbabwe. IPV exert a long-term influence in relationships. One of the most dangerous forms of violence is performed by an intimate partner. People in relationships experience all forms of IPV such as physical, emotional, economic, and sexual. Violence is often perpetrated against an intimate partner as a way of showing systematic patterns of dominance and control. Qualitative methodology was used in this study. Data was collected through key informant interviews, focus group discussions and documentary sources. The research concludes that intimate partner violence impacts survivors' immediate sexual, physical and psychological health and increases the risks of longer-term health problems and social stigma.

A Randomized, Controlled Trial of the Impact of the Couple CARE for Parents of Newborns Program on the Prevention of Intimate Partner Violence and Relationship Problems.

Effective, accessible prevention programs are needed for adults at heightened risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). This parallel group randomized controlled trial examines whether such couples receiving the American version of Couple CARE for Parents of Newborns (CCP; Halford et al. 2009) following the birth of a child, compared with controls, report fewer first occurrences of clinically significant IPV, less frequent physical and psychological IPV, and improved relationship functioning. Further, we test whether intervention effects are moderated by level of risk for IPV. Couples at elevated risk for IPV (N = 368) recruited from maternity units were randomized to CCP (n =188) or a 24-month waitlist (n = 180) and completed measures of IPV and relationship functioning at baseline, post-program (when child was 8months old), and two follow-ups (at 15 and 24months). Intervention effects were tested using intent to treat (ITT) as well as complier average causal effect (CACE; Jo and Muthén 2001) structural equation models. CCP did not significantly prevent clinically significant IPV nor were there significant main effects of CCP on clinically significant IPV, frequency of IPV, or most relationship outcomes in the CACE or ITT analyses. Risk moderated the effect of CCP on male-to-female physical IPV at post-program, with couples with a planned pregnancy declining, but those with unplanned pregnancies increasing. This study adds to previous findings that prevention programs for at-risk couples are not often effective and may even be iatrogenic for some couples.

Sexual health in young women with metastatic breast cancer: The state of the science.

223 Background: The incidence of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in women under 40 is increasing. Sexual health is a key element of quality of life (QOL) and is impacted by MBC. While those searching the Internet receive primarily anecdotal information, the state of the science around MBC and sexual health for young women appears to be limited. Methods: Four databases were searched for English language articles: PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, and Sociological Abstracts.Search topics included sexual health, sexual activity, intimacy, gender identity, sexual orientation, body image, and/or intimate partner relationships among young women with MBC. Results: 598 studies were reviewed; 9 met selection criteria. Four studies were included on body image and sexual activity: 2 reported a correlation between young age and poor body image; in a third, no relationship was found for women 30-49; in the fourth, among patients with metastatic or localized disease, women < 45 placed greater importance on body image or changes in sex life than women > 65. Three studies examined sexual health and treatment: a review of hormonal therapies in young patients recommended that sexual side effects be considered; a qualitative study reported on the impact of mastectomy on feelings of femininity and body image; an observational study of patients with locally recurrent or MBC found younger age was associated with greater vaginal dryness and decreased sexual interest/activity. One qualitative study did not find patterns of difference in sexual health needs related to age-patients of all ages and relationship status desired more information. In a study of QOL and MBC, younger age was associated with less sex life satisfaction. Subjects across all studies were primarily white, and sexual activity studied was primarily heterosexual, vaginal sex. Conclusions: The scientific literature on sexual health among young women with MBC is exceedingly limited. Studies that do examine sexual health often exclude those with MBC, do not examine the impact of age, and are focused on heterosexual, white women. Understanding the impact of MBC on young women’s sexual health can inform future care practices for this growing population.

Harms from a partner’s drinking: an international study on adverse effects and reduced quality of life for women

ABSTRACT Background: Partners of heavy drinking individuals can be detrimentally affected as a result of their partner’s drinking. Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the proportion of heterosexual intimate partner relationships with a heavy drinking male that resulted in reported alcohol-related harm and to investigate the impact of this on well-being in 9 countries. Methods: This study used survey data from the Gender and Alcohol’s Harm to Others (GENAHTO) Project on Alcohol’s Harm to Others in 9 countries (10,613 female respondents, 7,091 with intimate live-in partners). Respondents were asked if their partners drinking had negatively affected them as well as questions on depression, anxiety, and satisfaction with life. Results: The proportion of partnered respondents that reported having a harmful heavy drinking partner varied across countries, from 4% in Nigeria and the US to 33% in Vietnam. The most consistent correlate of experiencing harm was being oneself a heavy episodic drinker, most likely as a proxy measure for the acceptability of alcohol consumption in social circles. Women with a harmful heavy drinking partner reported significantly lower mean satisfaction with life than those with a partner that did not drink heavily. Conclusions: Harms to women from heavy drinking intimate partners appear across a range of subgroups and impact on a wide range of women, at least demographically speaking. Women living with a heavy drinking spouse experience higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms and lower satisfaction with life.

Severity of neurocognitive impairment in women who have experienced intimate partner violence in Spain

ABSTRACTThis study examines neuropsychological impairment in women who have experienced intimate partner violence using DSM 5 criteria for mild and severe cognitive impairment. A total of 108 females in Spain were included in one of three groups: psychological abuse (n = 24), physical and psychological abuse (n = 45), and no-abuse (n = 39). There were differences between the control and IPV groups in attention and executive functioning. Furthermore, approximately 25% of women experiencing IPV suffer mild neuropsychological alterations and 5% severe, mostly in memory and executive function domains. This evidence supports the growth in research that suggests psychological violence on its own to be as strongly related to poor health outcomes as physical violence in intimate partner relationships.

The Effect of Gender on Negative Emotional Experiences Accompanying Muslims’ and Jews’ Use of Verbal Aggression in Heterosexual Intimate-Partner Relationships

ABSTRACTThis study examined the relationship between gender, religion, and the negative emotional experiences that accompany the use of unidirectional and mutual verbal aggression in conflicts between spouses. The study was based on a community sample of 163 couples (326 participants). The findings show that the negative emotional experience in mutually aggressive interactions is more intense than that observed in unidirectional aggressive interactions. The negative emotional experience that accompanies the use of verbal aggression is more intense among women than among men. The findings also show that the more one partner uses verbal aggression, the more the other partner will do so as well. In the general Israeli population, the use of verbal aggression between partners is more prevalent among Jewish couples than among Muslim couples; this difference points to an effect of the sociocultural context. Theoretical and empirical implications of the theoretical framework and the findings are discussed, including the role of verbal aggression in the escalation of partner conflicts.

Health-related quality of life assessment among people living with HIV in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: a cross-sectional study.

To assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its associated factors among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A cross-sectional study including PLWHA receiving usual HIV-care at Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas (INI/Fiocruz) was conducted between 2014 and 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The EQ-5D-3L assessed HRQoL; PHQ-2 and ASSIST were used for screening depression and substance use, respectively. Clinical variables were obtained from the INI/Fiocruz cohort database, and structured questions evaluated intimate partner violence, sexual abstinence and relationship status. Data were analysed using multivariable Tobit regression model. A total of 1480 PLWHA were included: 64.7% were male at birth (38.4% men who have sex with men [MSM], 24.3% heterosexual men and 2% transgender women [TGW]); median age was 43.1 years, and 95.8% were receiving antiretroviral therapy. The median EQ-5D-3L utility score was 0.801. Results showed that the following factors: MSM and women; older age; lower educational level; no engagement in a relationship; depression screening positive; polysubstance use; and, detectable viral load were independently associated with worse HRQoL. PLWHA under care at INI/Fiocruz presented good HRQoL. Polysubstance use, depression and lower educational level were among the factors negatively associated with HRQoL. This was the first time that the EQ-5D-3L utility scores were calculated for a considerable number of PLWHA in Brazil, which is a fundamental piece of information for future cost-effectiveness analysis.

Intimate Partner Sexual Violence: An Often Overlooked Problem.

Intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) is a common but often overlooked form of intimate partner violence (IPV) that may have unique consequences for those who experience it. We aimed to explore how outcomes associated with IPSV differ from outcomes associated with other forms of intimate partner and sexual violence. We conducted a narrative review of the English-language literature, including original research studies and reports that focused on outcomes associated with IPSV. We aimed to quantify the risk for health outcomes associated with exposure to IPSV in comparison with exposure to other forms of interpersonal violence or nonexposure to interpersonal violence. Twenty-eight publications were reviewed, most were small observational studies focused on women exposed to IPSV. Reported outcomes were related to mental health (n = 20 studies), physical and sexual health (n = 19 studies), and health of children with a parent exposed to IPSV (n = 1 study). Compared with other forms of interpersonal violence, exposure to IPSV was associated with greater risk for posttraumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms, problematic substance use, suicidality, pain and other somatic symptoms, adverse sexual health problems, specific physical injuries including strangulation, and death by homicide. Children with an exposed parent were at higher risk for internalizing symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and somatization. Sexual violence in intimate partner relationships is common and has distinct consequences compared with other forms of interpersonal violence including elevated risks for suicidality and death by homicide. It should be given special consideration within the assessment and management of interpersonal violence.

Type D personality and social relations in adults with diabetes: results from diabetes MILES – The Netherlands

Objective: To examine whether individual differences in Type D personality (combination of negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI)) could explain heterogeneity in perceived social support and relationship adjustment (intimate partner relationship) among people living with diabetes.Design: In the Diabetes MILES—The Netherlands survey, 621 adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes (54% female, age: 56 ± 14 years) completed measures of Type D personality (DS14), perceived social support and relationship adjustment. We used established DS14 cut-off scores to indicate Type D personality, high NA only, high SI only and reference groups.Results: Participants from the Type D and NA only groups perceived lower levels of social support (Welch[3,259] = 37.27, p < 0.001), and relationship adjustment (Welch[3,191] = 14.74; p < 0.01) than those from the SI only and reference groups. Type D was associated with lower social support (lowest quartile; adjusted OR = 8.73; 95%CI = 5.05 ∼ 15.09; p < 0.001) and lower relationship adjustment (lowest quartile; adjusted OR = 3.70; 95%CI = 2.10 ∼ 6.53; p < 0.001). Type D was also associated with increased levels of loneliness.Conclusion: Participants with Type D and participants with high NA only tend to experience less social support and less relationship adjustment. Type D personality was also associated with more loneliness. Experiencing lower social support and relationship adjustment may complicate coping and self-management in people with diabetes.

Reintegration Among High-Profile Ex-Offenders

PurposeThe reintegration of high-profile ex-offenders—including homicide offenders, pedophiles, and terrorists—frequently receives great political and public attention. This raises several important questions: how do such offenders reintegrate into society after their release? What is the impact of their prison sentence and media attention on life domains post-release? And, given their presence in the public eye, how do current life course theories account for desistance among this special group?MethodsBased on in-depth life course interviews with ten Dutch high-profile ex-offenders and interviews with 17 professionals involved in their reintegration, this study seeks to address a significant gap in academic literature on the role of public attention on reentry and desistance.ResultsWhile none of the subjects reengaged in criminal behavior, all of them significantly struggled in the domains of family relations, parenthood, intimate partner relationships, employment, and housing post-release. This poses challenges in terms of explaining their desistance through life course theory alone. They are frequently in the public eye, which—combined with strict supervision—inhibits them from rebuilding relationships that may act as informal social controls.ConclusionsFindings emphasize the significance of the broader social context of high-profile offenders as well as factors such as time and age, for gaining an understanding of their lived experiences and desistance.

Intimate Partner Relationships, Work-Life Factors, and Their Associations With Burnout Among Partnered Pediatric Residents

BackgroundBurnout is prevalent among pediatric residents, and reducing burnout is a priority for pediatric residency programs. Understanding residents’ personal circumstances, including relationship satisfaction and perceived work-life conflict, may identify novel determinants of burnout. ObjectivesTo describe intimate partner relationships among pediatric residents and examine associations among relationship satisfaction, work-life factors, and burnout. MethodsWe identified 203 partnered residents (married or in a self-identified committed, ongoing relationship) from a cross-sectional survey of 258 residents in 11 New England pediatric programs (response rate 54% of 486 surveys distributed), conducted from April through June of 2013. We analyzed associations among relationship satisfaction, work-life factors, and burnout using multivariable regression. Burnout was measured with the brief Maslach Burnout Inventory, and relationship satisfaction with the validated Relationship Assessment Scale. ResultsBurnout was reported by 40.9% of partnered respondents. The vast majority of partnered residents (n = 167; 85.2%) reported high relationship satisfaction. Lower relationship satisfaction was not associated with burnout. Approximately half of the respondents (n = 102; 51.5%) reported being satisfied with life as a resident. When controlling for common stressors, such as sleep deprivation, work-life measures associated with burnout included frequent perceived conflicts between personal and professional life (adjusted odds ratio, 4.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.91–9.88) and dissatisfaction with life as a resident (adjusted odds ratio, 11.74; 95% confidence interval, 4.23–32.57). ConclusionLow relationship satisfaction and common work-life stressors were not associated with burnout among partnered pediatric residents. However, perceived work-life conflict and dissatisfaction with resident life were strongly associated with burnout and are targets for residency programs seeking to ameliorate burnout.

Quantitative and qualitative assessment of maternal sexuality during pregnancy

Objective To investigate the quantitative and qualitative measures of the complex relationship between sexuality and the pregnant state. Methods An anonymous questionnaire [comprising the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire, the Evaluation and Nurturing Relationship Issues, Communication and Happiness (ENRICH) Marital Satisfaction Scale, scale of attitudes toward sexuality, the World Health Organization (WHO) Well-Being Index and the scale of body image] was given to 243 women during antenatal classes. Results We evaluated 200 primiparous women, with an average age of 30.5 years (range 21-44), at an average gestational age of 31.6 weeks (range 19-38). We found that sexual intercourse during pregnancy is less frequent and less satisfying compared to the pre-pregnancy period. Sexuality or certain aspects of sexuality (arousal and satisfaction with sexuality) are associated with the fear of hurting the fetus, satisfaction with intimate partner relationship, general attitude toward sexuality, physical self-image and general well-being. Women who are more satisfied with their intimate partner relationship are also more satisfied with their sexuality. Conclusion Sexuality and sexual well-being during pregnancy are associated with the fear of hurting the fetus, satisfaction with intimate partner relationship, attitude toward sexuality, physical self-image and general well-being.

Evaluación del abuso psicológico en parejas del mismo sexo: evidencias de validez de la EAPA-P en una muestra de habla hispana

Antecedentes: La investigación del abuso psicológico en parejas del mismo sexo se ha incrementado en las últimas décadas. Sin embargo, los pocos estudios de validación de medidas estandarizadas se han realizado en países anglosajones. La Escala de Abuso Psicológico Aplicado en la Pareja (EAPA-P) es un cuestionario auto-administrado que mide comportamientos abusivos experimentados en relaciones de pareja. El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar las propiedades psicométricas de la EAPA-P en parejas del mismo sexo compuestas por personas hispano-hablantes. Método: 372 lesbianas, gais y bisexuales participaron en el estudio a través de un cuestionario en línea. Se examinó la estructura interna, las correlaciones con una medida de malestar psicológico y la capacidad de discriminación de la escala. La fiabilidad se examinó mediante el coeficiente alfa ordinal. Resultados: Se extrajo un único factor que explicó el 52.27% de la varianza total, obteniendo una fiabilidad de .95. El análisis discriminante reveló una puntuación mayor de 12 como punto de corte óptimo para identificar la victimización. Se hallaron correlaciones significativas entre las puntuaciones de la EAPA-P y sintomatología depresiva. Conclusiones: La EAPA-P parece ser un instrumento válido y fiable para evaluar el abuso psicológico en personas hispano-hablantes en parejas del mismo sexo.

Partner relationship satisfaction, partner conflict, and maternal cardio-metabolic health in the year following the birth of a child

Intimate partner relationship quality during the child-bearing years has implications for maternal health. The purpose of this study was to test whether partner satisfaction, partner conflict, and their interaction predicted maternal cardio-metabolic health at 12-months postpartum. Women were recruited in 5 U.S. sites. Partner conflict and satisfaction were measured at 6-months postpartum, and cardio-metabolic indicators (blood pressure, waist-hip ratio, glycosylated hemoglobin, total cholesterol:HDL ratio) were assessed at 6- and 12-months. Cardio-metabolic indices were scored continuously (CMrisk) and using clinical risk cutoffs (CM scores). A significant conflict-by-satisfaction interaction emerged for the CM risk, b(SE) = .043 (.016), p = .006, and CM scores, b(SE)= .089 (.028), p = .002, such that when partner satisfaction was low, low partner conflict was associated with poorer postpartum cardio-metabolic health. This is the first study to examine close relationships and cardio-metabolic health during the child-bearing years, an issue warranting further attention.

Sexual abuse and accepting attitudes towards intimate partner rape in Uganda

Objective: The aim was to study sexual abuse, accepting attitudes towards intimate partner rape and psychological concomitants in intimate partner relationships in Uganda. Method: A questionnaire was completed by 315 respondents (174 females and 141 males). The mean age for females was 31.7 years ( SD = 10.3) and 33.6 ( SD = 12.4) for males. Results: Females scored significantly higher than males on victimisation from aggression due to denial of sex, victimisation from sexual abuse, and psychological concomitants of intimate partner rape. The acceptance rate for rape in intimate relationships was high, only one percent among females and two percent among males reported zero tolerance. Victimisation from sexual abuse as well as psychological concomitants of intimate partner rape were significantly higher among respondents who had completed only primary school compared to those with a higher education. Accepting attitudes towards rape in intimate relationships were positively correlated with age, no sex differences were found. Respondents with higher educational levels reported significantly lower levels of acceptance of intimate partner rape. For females, but not for males, accepting attitudes correlated positively with both victimisation and psychological concomitants. Conclusions: Victimisation from sexual abuse, psychological concomitants and accepting attitudes towards intimate partner rape were all related to low educational level. Reasons for the high levels of accepting attitudes towards intimate partner rape especially among female victims are discussed.

A Life without Violence? Experience of Treatment for Perpetrators of Violence in Intimate Partner Relationships in a Small Nordic Welfare Society

&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;In this study, the experiences of perpetrators of violence in intimate relationships in Iceland that took part in this program; “Peace at home” were explored. Also the experiences of survivors were examined, who had a spouse that took part in that treatment program. A qualitative method was used, interviews were taken with six perpetrators and six survivors. All of the participants were white Icelandic people, none of them had a different ethnic background. The interviews were transcribed and analysed. As a result of their participation in the treatment program, all the perpetrators experienced improvement in quality of life, in their relationships with their spouses and in their general well-being. The survivors experienced the time their spouse was in therapy as positive overall and that it made a difference in their own lives. In all cases the physical violence stopped. However, the emotional abuse did not cease in all cases or increased again. Thus, it seems that perpetrators might need more prolonged treatment or different emphasis in treatment, in order to work on patriarchal mentality and stress-provoking situations.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Examining diffusion to understand the how of SASA!, a violence against women and HIV prevention intervention in Uganda

BackgroundA growing number of complex public health interventions combine mass media with community-based “change agents” and/or mobilisation efforts acting at multiple levels. While impact evaluations are important, there is a paucity of research into the more nuanced roles intervention and social network factors may play in achieving intervention outcomes, making it difficult to understand how different aspects of the intervention worked (or did not). This study applied aspects of diffusion of innovations theory to explore how SASA!, a community mobilisation approach for preventing HIV and violence against women, diffused within intervention communities and the factors that influenced the uptake of new ideas and behaviours around intimate partner relationships and violence.MethodsThis paper is based on a qualitative study of couples living in SASA communities and secondary analysis of endline quantitative data collected as part of a cluster randomised control trial designed to evaluate the impact of the SASA! intervention. The primary trial was conducted in eight communities in Kampala, Uganda between 2007 and 2012. The secondary analysis of follow up survey data used multivariate logistic regression to examine associations between intervention exposure and interpersonal communication, and relationship change (n = 928). The qualitative study used in-depth interviews (n = 20) and framework analysis methods to explore the intervention attributes that facilitated engagement with the intervention and uptake of new ideas and behaviours in intimate relationships.ResultsWe found communication materials and mid media channels generated awareness and knowledge, while the concurrent influence from interpersonal communication with community-based change agents and social network members more frequently facilitated changes in behaviour. The results indicate combining community mobilisation components, programme content that reflects peoples’ lives and direct support through local change agents can facilitate diffusion and powerful collective change processes in communities.ConclusionsThis study makes clear the value of applying diffusion of innovations theory to illuminate how complex public health intervention evaluations effect change. It also contributes to our knowledge of partner violence prevention in a low-income, urban East African context.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00790959. Registered 13th November 2008.

Intimate partner relationship stress and suicidality in a psychiatrically hospitalized military sample

ObjectiveSuicide among United States service members is a significant public health concern. Intimate partner relationship stress may contribute to suicide risk, as a failed or failing relationship is the most commonly documented stressor preceding military suicide attempts and deaths. However, little is known about the manner by which relationship stressors are associated with the experience of military suicidality. MethodsA sample of 190 psychiatrically hospitalized military personnel and adult dependents enrolled in an ongoing randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of an inpatient cognitive behavioral treatment for suicidality were included in this study. Analyses examined depression, hopelessness, and suicidality among participants with (n = 105) and without (n = 85) self-reported romantic relationship stress. ResultsOver half (55%) of the sample reported current romantic relationship stress. Compared to participants without current romantic relationship stress, results indicated that individuals reporting current romantic relationship stress were more hopeless (AOR = 1.07 (95% CI: 1.01–1.12), p = 0.020), more likely to endorse multiple suicide attempts (AOR = 1.96 (95% CI: 1.01–3.79), p = 0.046), had higher overall suicide risk (AOR = 2.49, (95% CI: 1.03–6.06), p = 0.044), and were more likely to report that the reason for their suicidality was at least in part to get a reaction from others. ConclusionsFindings suggest romantic relationship stress is associated with greater suicide risk, and have clinical implications for suicide prevention and intervention. Future research may examine mechanisms and pathways between romantic relationship stress, suicidality, and prevention and intervention strategies.

Correlates of Psychiatric Inpatients Length of Stay in North-Central Nigeria

Long duration of hospitalisation has been associated with negative consequences of isolating the patients from their social network, initiating maladaptive patterns in the patients and worsening the burden of care on the relatives. In this particular study, we were interested in determining factors that correlate with length of stay on admission among in-patients receiving psychiatric services in North-Central Nigeria. The prospective study was part of a larger in-patients study conducted on 112 consenting patients admitted in the psychiatric wards of Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi, Federal Medical Centre Makurdi and Jos University Teaching Hospital Jos during the study period. Patients who stayed on hospital admission for more than twenty-eight (28) days were classified as ‘long stay’, conversely, those who were discharged from admission after spending 28 days or less were referred to as ‘short stay’ patients. A total of 112 subjects were recruited for the study, 67(59.8%) were female while 45(40.2%) were male, the mean age was 36.98±11.09 years and 54(48.2%) subjects were still married at the time of the study. Forty-two representing 37.5% of the respondents stayed on admission for more than 28 days. The mean duration of stay was 28.8±24.5 days. Long duration of stay was found to be significantly associated with the quality of intimate partner relationship (p=0.001), years of completed education (p=0.021), age group (p=0.001), nature of psychiatric diagnosis (p=0.014), pharmacotherapy (p=0.001), comorbid physical condition (p=0.001), previous admission (p=0.001), defaulted treatment (p=0.001), frequency of previous episodes (p=0.001) and the number of years a patient has had the mental disorder (p=0.001). We concluded that, assessing duration of stay on admission among in-patients treatment for psychiatric disorders is very necessary.