Relationship Health and Intimate Partner Violence in Integrated Primary Care: Individual Characteristics and Preferences for Relationship Support across Risk Levels

Dev Crasta (), Cory A. Crane, Nicole Trabold, Robyn L. Shepardson, Kyle Possemato and Jennifer S. Funderburk
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Dev Crasta: Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, Department of Veterans Affairs, Canandaigua, NY 14424, USA
Cory A. Crane: College of Health Science and Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623, USA
Nicole Trabold: College of Health Science and Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623, USA
Robyn L. Shepardson: Center for Integrated Healthcare, Syracuse VA Medical Center, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
Kyle Possemato: Center for Integrated Healthcare, Syracuse VA Medical Center, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
Jennifer S. Funderburk: Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-14

Abstract: This study explores differences in characteristics and relationship treatment preferences across different levels of intimate partner violence (IPV) among Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care patients. In Fall 2019, we sent a mail-in survey assessing relationship healthcare needs to N = 299 Veterans randomly sampled from 20 northeastern VA primary care clinics (oversampling female and younger Veterans). We compared those reporting past year use or experience of physical/sexual aggression, threats/coercion, or injury (Severe IPV; 21%), to those only reporting yelling and screaming (Verbal Conflict; 51%), and denying any IPV (No IPV; 28%). Participants across groups desired 2–6 sessions of face-to-face support for couples’ health and communication. No IPV participants were older and had preferred treatment in primary care. The Verbal Conflict and Severe IPV groups were both flagged by IPV screens and had similar interest in couple treatment and relationship evaluation. The Severe IPV group had higher rates of harms (e.g., depression, alcohol use disorder, relationship dissatisfaction, fear of partner) and higher interest in addressing safety outside of VA. Exploratory analyses suggested differences based on use vs. experience of Severe IPV. Findings highlight ways integrated primary care teams can differentiate services to address dissatisfaction and conflict while facilitating referrals for Severe IPV.

Keywords: primary care; integrated primary care; intimate partner violence (IPV); marital conflict; couple communication (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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