Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.
The University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma, USA.
J Interpers Violence. 2021 Mar;36(5-6):NP2800-NP2822. doi: 10.1177/0886260518767913. Epub 2018 Apr 12.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health concern found across genders, socioeconomic strata, cultures, and ethnicities. While IPV is traditionally examined from either the victim or initiator role, it is also important to consider relationships in which both partners experience and demonstrate violence. The current study examined the relation between IPV chronicity and depression among 403 female caregivers with young children. Specifically, the current study examined the association between bidirectional IPV and depression. Furthermore, the impact of social support on depression levels among those caregivers was assessed. Results suggest that of those couples who experienced violence, bidirectional IPV was reported significantly more frequently than unidirectional IPV only. No significant differences in depression were found between those reporting bidirectional versus unidirectional IPV. Among those involved in bidirectional IPV, having greater social support was associated with significantly lower depression levels. Findings suggest that both initiation and experiences of IPV should be assessed among caregivers of vulnerable children. The potential impact of social support was also identified in this study. Clinicians may consider assessing family violence broadly, including bidirectional IPV, particularly among parents of young children with other adverse life conditions. Development and sustainment of healthy relationships through social support may facilitate adjustment for the caregivers.
亲密伴侣暴力（IPV）是一个存在于不同性别、社会经济阶层、文化和种族中的公共卫生问题。虽然 IPV 通常从受害者或发起者的角色来研究，但也很重要的是要考虑到双方都经历和表现出暴力的关系。本研究调查了 403 名有年幼子女的女性照顾者中 IPV 慢性与抑郁之间的关系。具体来说，本研究调查了双向 IPV 与抑郁之间的关联。此外，还评估了社会支持对这些照顾者抑郁水平的影响。结果表明，在经历过暴力的夫妻中，双向 IPV 的报告频率明显高于单向 IPV。报告双向 IPV 和单向 IPV 的人之间的抑郁水平没有显著差异。在参与双向 IPV 的人中，社会支持越大，抑郁水平越低。研究结果表明，在脆弱儿童的照顾者中，应评估 IPV 的发起和经历。本研究还确定了社会支持的潜在影响。临床医生可能会考虑广泛评估家庭暴力，包括双向 IPV，特别是在有其他不利生活条件的幼儿父母中。通过社会支持建立和维持健康的关系可以促进照顾者的适应。
