Mental disorders are twice as common among victim-survivors of intimate partner violence
Yet victim-survivors often don’t or can’t access mental health care.
A new study published in the Journal of Family Violence has found that mental disorders are twice as common among victim-survivors of intimate partner violence compared to those who have not experienced such violence. The research, which analyzed data from over 7,000 Australians, found that more than half (55.3%) of those who experienced intimate partner violence met criteria for at least one of four mental disorders, including major depressive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and alcohol use disorder.
This prevalence was significantly higher than among those who had not experienced intimate partner violence (24.5%). The study also found that the prevalence of mental disorders was similar across those who experienced psychological, physical, or sexual violence, suggesting that the mental health impact of intimate partner violence is not limited to a specific form of abuse.
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