Domestic Violence Effects on Mental Health?

Domestic violence (physical, sexual, and emotional) and sexual violence result in severe short and long-term physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health problems for women. These forms of violence also affect their children and generate significant social and economic costs for women, their families, and society. Such violence can have the following consequences:

It can be fatal in the form of homicide and suicide. If a woman faces such violence, it is better to immediately address the domestic violence hotline Ohio for getting assistance.

It can be traumatic: 42% of women who have been exposed to intimate partner violence report trauma as a result of such violence.

Such domestic violence can result in unwanted pregnancies, induced abortions, gynecological problems and sexually acquired infections, including HIV. According to the results of an analytical study in 2013, among women who have been exposed to physical or sexual violence, the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections is 1.5 times higher than those of other women who have not been exposed to physical violence. These women are also twice as likely to have abortions. In such a case, it is recommended to undergo community psychiatric supportive treatment.

Domestic sexual violence during pregnancy also increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and low birth weight. According to the same 2013 study, women who have been exposed to intimate partner violence have a 16% increase in the likelihood of miscarriage and a 41% increase in the likelihood of premature birth.

These forms of violence can result in depression, PTSD, and other anxiety disorders, sleep problems, nutrition disorders, and suicide attempts. A 2013 analytical study found that women who are exposed to domestic violence were almost twice as likely to develop depression and alcohol use problems as other women.

Other health consequences can also include headache, back pain, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal upset, limited mobility, and poor overall health.

Sexual abuse, especially during childhood, can increase the likelihood of smoking, drug and alcohol abuse, and risky sexual behavior later in life. It also correlates with the perpetration of violence (for men) and exposure to violence as a victim (for women).

Domestic violence impact on children

Children growing up in abusive families can suffer from a range of behavioral and emotional disorders that can lead to or be exposed to abuse later in life.

Intimate partner violence is also associated with increased rates of mortality and morbidity in infants and young children (for example, due to diarrheal diseases and malnutrition).

Social and economic impacts

The social and economic costs of domestic sexual violence are enormous and have a range of long-term consequences for society. Women can suffer from isolation, inability to work, loss of earnings, lack of participation in normal activities, and limited ability to care for themselves and their children.

A mental therapist may be effective in improving the life of women after domestic violence. Every women may find support in CPST. Such organizations offer the following services:

• needs assessments;
• links to community resources;
• symptom monitoring;
• coordination of care with other professionals;
• education on managing mental health illness symptoms;
• assistance in mentoring skills introduced in counseling sessions.