Intimate partner violence and health outcomes in mid-life women: a population-based cohort study.

Aim: To investigate the association between experience of intimate partner violence (IPV) and health outcomes measured prospectively.

Method: Eleven-year prospective study of a population-based cohort of 438 Australian-born women aged 45-55 years at baseline (in 1991). Annual face-to-face interviews measured health status and quality of life; questionnaires on intimate partner physical, emotional and sexual violence and on experiences of childhood abuse completed in year 6 of follow-up.

Results: In year 11 of follow-up 233 women (mean age 59.9 SD 2.5 years) were interviewed of whom 62 (27%) reported experiencing physical and/or emotional and/or sexual IPV prior to the 6(th) year of follow-up. In bi-variate analysis a history of IPV was significantly associated with mental and sexual health variables and marital status at baseline and follow-up. Multivariate analysis found that at follow-up after allowing for baseline measures and other co-variates: Frequency of Sexual Activities was lower in women who had experienced IPV (p < 0.05); and negative mood was higher in women with the experience of IPV during the 12 months prior to completing the violence questionnaire (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: IPV was a significant contributor to mental and sexual health status measured prospectively in this cohort of mid-aged Australian-born women.