Identifying Factors that Predict Women's Inability to Maintain Separation from an Abusive Partner

Abstract

In this study, the extent to which nine indicators of intrusion (i.e., unwanted interference in everyday life) predicted the odds of women maintaining separation from an abusive partner was examined using data from a community sample of 286 Canadian women. Higher levels of depression and PTSD symptoms significantly and independently increased women's risk of being unable to maintain separation from a former or new abusive partner over a 12-month period (Odds Ratios 4.6 and 2.7, respectively). These finding underscore the importance of supporting women to identify and manage mental health problems as a means of enhancing their safety.