Intimate partner violence and postpartum emotional distress among South African women: Moderating effects of resilience and vulnerability factors

ABSTRACT

In this study we aimed to identify factors that condition (i.e. buffer or exacerbate) the impact of exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) on postpartum emotional distress among South African women. Hypothesised buffering factors included: socioeconomic status, family social support, and religiosity. Hypothesised exacerbating factors included: baseline distress, HIV status, and childhood abuse. Longitudinal analyses examined interactions between putative buffering and exacerbating factors and exposure to physical or sexual IPV, assessed during pregnancy (T1), as predictors of emotional distress, measured at 14 weeks (T2) and 9 months postpartum (T3). Consistent with hypotheses, at both T2 and T3 the impact of IPV exposure on emotional distress was significantly stronger among women who reported greater baseline distress and weaker among women of greater socioeconomic status. At T3, an interaction emerged with HIV status; the impact of IPV exposure on emotional distress was stronger for women who were diagnosed as HIV-positive during pregnancy. Findings support the need for targeted mental health promotion interventions for IPV-exposed women who are newly diagnosed with HIV and/or report high levels of emotional distress during pregnancy. Although more research is needed, findings also suggest that strengthening socioeconomic supports for IPV-exposed women may buffer impacts on postpartum mental health.

KEYWORDS:

• Intimate partner violence
• postpartum mental health
• moderators
• longitudinal

Acknowledgements

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Development of the National Institutes of Health under award number R03HD089140. The parent study that collected the data used in the current study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health under award number R01HD050134. Views expressed are those of the authors, and not necessarily those of sponsoring agencies.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health under [award number R03HD089140]. The parent study that collected the data used in the current study was also funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development [award number R01HD050134].