Department of Educational Studies in Psychology, Research Methodology and Counseling, University of Alabama, P.O. Box 870231, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA.
Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, 10 Tri-Park Way, Appleton, WI 54914-1658, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 14;20(4):3312. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20043312.
Research has shown that rates of domestic violence generally increased during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, likely related to mitigation efforts that promoted staying at home and lockdown protocols. However, the link between pandemic-related domestic violence victimization and mental health outcomes has been less explored. The present study examined the possible association between exposure to domestic physical and psychological violence during the COVID-19 pandemic and depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in an online sample of American adults recruited in December 2021. Data from 604 participants were analyzed. Forty-four percent of participants ( = 266) reported experiencing physical domestic violence, psychological domestic violence, or both during the pandemic, with psychological violence more commonly reported than physical violence. Exposure to both forms of violence was associated with higher rates of depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Given the high rates and negative associations between psychological domestic violence and mental health symptoms in this sample, healthcare providers should assess for domestic violence exposure even if no indications of physical abuse are present or if there were not concerns about domestic violence exposure prior to the pandemic. Potential psychological sequalae should also be assessed if a patient has a positive history of domestic violence victimization.
研究表明，2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行期间，家庭暴力发生率普遍上升，这可能与促进居家和封锁协议的缓解措施有关。然而，与大流行相关的家庭暴力受害与心理健康结果之间的联系尚未得到充分探讨。本研究在 2021 年 12 月招募的美国成年人在线样本中，考察了 COVID-19 大流行期间遭受家庭身体和心理暴力与抑郁和创伤后应激症状（PTSS）之间的可能关联。对 604 名参与者的数据进行了分析。44%的参与者（n=266）报告在大流行期间经历过家庭身体暴力、心理暴力或两者兼有，心理暴力比身体暴力更为常见。接触这两种形式的暴力与更高的抑郁和创伤后应激症状发生率相关。鉴于该样本中心理性家庭暴力与心理健康症状之间的高发生率和负面关联，如果没有身体虐待的迹象，或者在大流行之前没有对家庭暴力暴露的担忧，医疗保健提供者也应该评估家庭暴力的暴露情况。如果患者有家庭暴力受害的阳性病史，也应该评估潜在的心理后果。
