Chronic Disease and Health Risk Behaviors Associated with Intimate Partner Violence—18 U.S. States/Territories, 2005

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Purpose

Few studies have examined the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) and health outcomes for both women and men. The current study examined this relationship for women and men as part of a large cross-sectional public-health survey that collected information on a range of health behaviors and health risks.

Methods

In 2005, over 70,000 respondents in 16 states and 2 territories were administered the first-ever IPV module within the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The BRFSS, sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is an annual random-digit-dialed telephone survey. Lifetime IPV was assessed by four questions that asked about threatened, attempted, or completed physical violence, as well as unwanted sex.

Results

Women and men who reported IPV victimization during their lifetime were more likely to report joint disease, current asthma, activity limitations, HIV risk factors, current smoking, heavy/binge drinking, and not having had a checkup with a doctor in the past year.

Conclusions

Experiencing IPV is associated with a number of adverse health outcomes and behaviors. There remains a need for the development of assessment opportunities and secondary intervention strategies to reduce the risk of negative health behaviors and long-term health problems associated with IPV victimization.

Introduction

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health problem, resulting in an estimated 1200 deaths and 2 million injuries per year among women, and nearly 600,000 injuries per year among men 1, 2. IPV is defined as threatened, attempted, or completed physical or sexual violence, or emotional abuse by a current or former intimate partner. IPV can be committed by a spouse, ex-spouse, current or former boyfriend or girlfriend, dating partner, or date (3). Further, IPV can occur among women and men as well as in both heterosexual and same-sex relationships.

Beyond the risk of death and injury, IPV has been associated with a range of significant short- and long-term negative mental and physical health outcomes 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. IPV has been linked with increased depressive symptoms, use of antidepressants, anxiety symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and mental health disability 4, 6, 13, 14. Physical health risks associated with IPV include poor general health, number of adverse physical health symptoms, disability, somatic syndromes, chronic pain, arthritis, migraines, hearing loss, angina, sexually transmitted infections, functional gastrointestinal disorders, and changes in endocrine and immune functions 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15. A number of health risk behaviors have also been linked with IPV, including heavy drinking, binge drinking, recreational drug use, and HIV risk factors 4, 6, 16, 17. However, the link between IPV and other health behaviors is less well established (18).

Most studies that have shown a link between IPV and health outcomes have studied women; however, fewer studies have examined how IPV impacts the health of men 4, 19. Furthermore, the association between IPV, chronic disease, and other health issues has not previously been evaluated as part of a large, national study of health risks and behaviors.

Section snippets

Methods

By using data from the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS), the current study examines the impact of IPV victimization on chronic disease indicators and health behaviors for both men and women. The BRFSS is a cross-sectional, random-digit-dial telephone survey administered annually by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The BRFSS provides surveillance of a number of health behaviors and health risks among the non-institutionalized adult population (18 years

Results

Table 1 presents the prevalence of each health outcome and behavior, stratified by sex and lifetime IPV experience.

Discussion

Using data from a large, multistate study of health risks and behaviors, we found a number of relationships between IPV victimization and health outcomes/behaviors for both women and men. Women and men who reported IPV victimization during their lifetime were more likely to report a range of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, joint disease, asthma, and activity limitations. However, only IPV among women was associated with heart disease and stroke. Both women and men

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    Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

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