Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health during Lockdown of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Fabienne Glowacz, Amandine Dziewa and Emilie Schmits
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Fabienne Glowacz: Department of Psychology-Adaptation Resilience and Change Research Unit (ARCh), University of Liege-Place des Orateurs, 1-4000 Liège, Belgium
Amandine Dziewa: Department of Psychology-Adaptation Resilience and Change Research Unit (ARCh), University of Liege-Place des Orateurs, 1-4000 Liège, Belgium
Emilie Schmits: Department of Psychology-Adaptation Resilience and Change Research Unit (ARCh), University of Liege-Place des Orateurs, 1-4000 Liège, Belgium

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: Background: This study took place in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The present research assesses the association between lockdown conditions (such as time spent at home, living environment, proximity to contamination and social contacts), mental health (including intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety and depression) and intimate partner violence within the community. This study evaluates the indirect effect of anxiety and depression on the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and intimate partner violence (physical assault and psychological aggression). Methods: 1532 adults (80.8% of women, Mage = 35.34) were recruited from the Belgian general population through an online self-report questionnaire completed during the lockdown (from April 17 to 1 May 2020). Results: The results demonstrate that the prevalence of physical assault (including both perpetration and victimization) was significantly higher in men, whereas the prevalence of psychological aggression was significantly higher in women. Men reported significantly more violence during lockdown. Women, on the other hand, were more anxious and more intolerant of uncertainty. No difference between men and women was found for depression. Anxiety and depression significantly mediated the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and physical assault and psychological aggression. Sex did not moderate the mediation. Conclusion: Clinical implications for public health policy are highlighted.

Keywords: intimate partner violence; COVID-19 pandemic; mental health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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