Wildman Emilie K, Dickson Hannah, MacManus Deirdre, McManus Sally, Kuipers Elizabeth, Onwumere Juliana
Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, SE5 8AF, London, UK.
Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience London, King's College London, London, UK.
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2025 Jul 16. doi: 10.1007/s00127-025-02959-4.
The poor health of unpaid carers is well-documented. Evidence also highlights that carers can experience high levels of domestic violence and abuse (DVA). However, links between DVA victimisation and health outcomes in carers remains largely overlooked. We examined DVA prevalence in carers and non-carers, and the relationship between carers' DVA experience and health morbidities.
We analysed data from a general population probability sample survey of 6,971 adults (aged ≥ 16 years) in England. Multivariable logistic regression models examined associations between caregiving, DVA experience, and mental and physical health morbidities (i.e., common mental disorders (CMD), probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), harmful alcohol use and chronic physical health conditions), adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic factors.
One person in five reported caring responsibilities. Caring was associated with higher odds of CMD and chronic physical health conditions. One in three carers reported experiencing DVA in adulthood, and carers were more likely to be victims of DVA than non-carers. In carers who experienced DVA, compared to carers reporting no DVA, adjusted odds of CMD (aOR 2.88, 95% CI 2.11-3.95); probable PTSD (aOR 5.67, 95% CI 3.12-10.30); hazardous alcohol use (aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.09-2.15) and chronic physical health conditions (aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.14-2.06), were significantly higher.
The risk of DVA victimisation among carers and the associated vulnerability to poorer health outcomes were highlighted. The need for greater awareness and identification of carers' risk of DVA, and better provision of support for the negative health consequences are emphasised.
无偿护理者健康状况不佳已有充分记录。证据还表明，护理者可能遭受高水平的家庭暴力和虐待（DVA）。然而，DVA受害经历与护理者健康结果之间的联系在很大程度上仍被忽视。我们调查了护理者和非护理者中DVA的患病率，以及护理者的DVA经历与健康疾病之间的关系。
我们分析了来自英格兰6971名成年人（年龄≥16岁）的一般人群概率抽样调查数据。多变量逻辑回归模型检验了护理、DVA经历与心理和身体健康疾病（即常见精神障碍（CMD）、可能的创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）、有害饮酒和慢性身体健康状况）之间的关联，并对人口统计学和社会经济因素进行了调整。
五分之一的人报告有护理责任。护理与患CMD和慢性身体健康疾病的几率较高有关。三分之一的护理者报告在成年后经历过DVA，护理者比非护理者更有可能成为DVA的受害者。在经历过DVA的护理者中，与未报告DVA的护理者相比，CMD的调整后几率（aOR 2.88，95%CI 2.11-3.95）；可能的PTSD（aOR 5.67，95%CI 3.12-10.30）；有害饮酒（aOR 1.53，95%CI 1.09-2.15）和慢性身体健康状况（aOR 1.53，95%CI 1.14-2.06）显著更高。
强调了护理者中DVA受害的风险以及与之相关的健康状况较差的易感性。强调需要提高对护理者DVA风险的认识和识别，并更好地为负面健康后果提供支持。
