![[ Visit Client Website ]](images/banner.gif)
Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of entry data from a longitudinal, seven-year prospective study comparing the safety, health, and functioning outcomes of 300 abused women and their children who, for the first time, sought protection through the justice system or assistance from a women’s shelter. A 7-item scale measured symptoms of PTSD and the 18-item Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) measured symptoms of depression, anxiety, and somatization. Data analysis was completed with descriptive statistics, ANOVA, regression, and effects testing.
Results: Regardless of level of income, women in all groups reported similar PTSD symptoms as a result of their abuse. However, women seeking protection orders who had no income had higher anxiety and somatization scores when compared to those who had some source of income. Conversely,, women in shelters who reported income, whether above or below poverty, had higher anxiety scores when compared to sheltered women with no reported income. Children of sheltered women were found to have greater behavioral dysfunction compared to children of women who use justice services, regardless of the mother’s poverty status.
Conclusions: Study findings support associations between intimate partner violence, poverty and maternal mental health and support the directional pathways described in our emerging conceptual model. Strategies to improve financial solvency of women who have experienced IPV may be one step in breaking the cycle of violence.