The Effects of Mutual Partner Violence on Women's Mental Health

Eric Foster
2005 The Eagle Feather  
This study examines the effects of five patterns of violence between domestic partners on women's mental health: (1) unilateral female-dominated, (2) unilateral male-dominated, (3) symmetrical mutual, (4) mutual female-dominated, and (5) mutual male-dominated. A sample of 835 low-income, ethnically diverse women in heterosexual relationships were interviewed. Violence was measured with the Severity of Violence Against Women/Men Scales, and mental health by the Hopkins Symptoms Check List. A
more » ... rity of violent relationships were characterized by mutuality with most violence dominated by the male partner. Women in unilateral male-dominated relationships numbered 126, while 75 were in unilateral female-dominated relationships. Violence in mutually violent relationships was most predictive of women's mental health problems. Intimate partner violence is not simply unidirectional but characterized by mutual violence.
doi:10.12794/tef.2005.196 fatcat:houvdrm4tbg57b2snuuvkbd52q