This study assessed the course of perinatal depression amongst 210 Latinas who were and were not affected by intimate partner violence (IPV) and identified associated psychosocial factors. Peak depression prevalence occurred prenatally among 45.7% of IPV-exposed and 24.6% of non-IPV-exposed Latinas. At each assessment, depression was significantly higher for IPV-exposed compared to non-IPV-exposed mothers. Mastery and social support were associated with lower depression, while history of IPV, perceived stress and avoidant coping behaviors were associated with higher depression. Findings support recommendations for routine depression and IPV screening of Latinas in perinatal clinical settings.

This longitudinal study assessed the contributions of psychosocial factors to symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during pregnancy and at 7 and 13 months postpartum in a sample of 206 low-income Latinas receiving prenatal services. Bilingual interviewers administered semistructured interviews that assessed sociodemographic characteristics (income, age, marital status, acculturation) and psychosocial factors (intimate partner violence (IPV), other lifetime trauma, depressive symptoms, and social support). Hierarchical linear regression analyses were conducted at each of the 3 time points in pregnancy and postpartum to identify the best predictors of PTSD symptoms. Results revealed that low-income, depressive symptoms and a history of other lifetime trauma were associated with symptoms of PTSD during pregnancy. After controlling for PTSD symptoms at baseline, PTSD symptoms at 7 months postpartum were associated with depressive symptoms, low perceived social support, and IPV history, but not history of other trauma. After controlling for PTSD symptoms at 7 months postpartum, PTSD symptoms at 13 months were associated with depressive symptoms and IPV. Screening for depressive symptoms and noninterpersonal trauma history in early pregnancy and for depressive symptoms, IPV, and social support postpartum in low-income Latina women may aid in identifying those at heightened risk for mental distress.

Our analyses examined whether reserve capacity factors would explain the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and symptoms of depression/anxiety in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We assessed disease activity, depression/anxiety symptoms, and intrapersonal and interpersonal reserve capacity measures in 128 patients with SLE. Multiple meditational analyses revealed that intrapersonal and interpersonal psychosocial aspects of reserve capacity fully mediated the relationship between SES and depression/anxiety. Lower SES was indirectly associated with higher symptoms of depression and anxiety through the effects of psychosocial resilience. Interventions aimed at improving modifiable reserve capacity variables, such as self-esteem and optimism, may improve anxious/depressive symptomatology in patients with SLE.

The rate of HIV/AIDS among women in India is expected to rise yet few studies have examined factors related to HIV risk among Indian women. The objective of this prospective, cross-sectional study was to characterize similarities and differences in the relationships, psychological well-being, and sexual behaviors among Indian women (N=459). Both HIV positive (N=216) and negative (N=243) women from urban and rural areas in India were included in this study. Chi-square, analysis of variance, and logistic regression analyses revealed that in both geographic groups, HIV-positive women were significantly more likely to report marital dissatisfaction, a history of forced sex, domestic violence, depressive symptoms and husband's extra marital sex when compared to the HIV-negative women. Findings also indicate that specific factors related to the quality of the marital relationship such as domestic violence, martial dysfunction, and depressive symptoms may be related to HIV-related risks for women. Implications for future research and culturally relevant interventions are discussed.

a b s t r a c tExperiences of past and current gender-based violence are common among HIV-positive women in the United States, who are predominantly from ethnic minority groups. However, culturally congruent, feasible interventions for HIVpositive women who have experienced past and/or current violence are not widely available. The Office on Women's Health Gender Forum has made several recommendations for responding to the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Implementation Plan, including recommendations to incorporate gender-based violence prevention into a comprehensive, gender-responsive national strategy. This paper draws on an example of a community-based project for HIV-positive women, the Healing Our Women Project, to illustrate how violence prevention can be achieved within peer-led and community-based programming. Strong community partnerships, responsiveness to community needs and local cultural norms, a trained workforce, and culturally competent care are programmatic cornerstones of gender-responsive services. HIV-positive women with histories of gender-based violence and risk factors for current and future violence deserve the highest quality gender-responsive services to ensure that they can address their health needs within contexts of safety and respect.Published by Elsevier Inc.