Intimate Partner Violence Exposure and Adolescent Mental Health Outcomes: The Mediating Role of Housing Insecurity

Abstract

The present study investigated pathways from childhood exposure to mothers’ intimate partner violence (IPV) to adolescent depression and anxiety. Further, the study examined whether housing insecurity mediated the link from IPV exposure to mental health outcomes. Data came from the Years 5, 9 and 15 interviews of the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study; the analytic sample was limited to mothers with at least partial custody of children ( N = 2,425). Structural equation modeling with latent variables investigated research questions. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) identified observed indicators for latent constructs, and a path analysis tested direct and indirect pathways from IPV exposure to adolescent depression and anxiety. IPV exposure at age five was associated with increased housing insecurity at age nine, which was associated with increased adolescent depression and anxiety at age 15. Although IPV exposure was not directly associated with either mental health outcome, housing insecurity mediated the link from IPV exposure to adolescent depression. Findings point to the long-term consequences of exposure to intimate partner violence in childhood, highlighting pathways to mental disorder in adolescence. The present study emphasizes the need for policies that protect survivors of IPV from eviction and homelessness, empower them to leave abusers without fear of losing their housing, and promote healthy child development in the wake of family violence.

A cross-sectional study: family communication, anxiety, and depression in adolescents: the mediating role of family violence and problematic internet use

“…Furthermore, exposure to family violence not only heightens the likelihood of depression in adolescents but also leads to adverse physiological responses, such as elevated blood pressure, as a consequence of the depression [24]. Prolonged exposure to family violence during childhood, particularly from mothers, is associated with elevated psychological problems, such as depression and anxiety, during adolescence [25]. According to the Global Status Report on Violence Against Children 2020, jointly published by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, approximately one in two children between the ages of 2 and 17 years worldwide experiences some form of violence each year.…”

Patterns and predictors of material hardship among poor families with children

“…A large body of research links IPV victimization with economic hardship for survivors (Adams et al, 2012; Breiding et al, 2017; Chan et al, 2021). Abusers may control household finances or limit survivors' ability to work or access assistance, and survivors who flee violent relationships may be forced to forgo stable income and living arrangements (Marçal, 2021a; Pavao et al, 2007). Depression has likewise been previously linked with economic hardship; mental disorder may impede ability to work (Beck et al, 2011), erode support networks (Marçal, 2021b), and create stigma (Brouwers et al, 2016; Fox et al, 2016).…”

Intimate Partner Violence and Depression of Mothers and Their Adolescent Children: The Roles of Housing Insecurity and System Contacts

“…Lack of stable housing may be an important factor in the pathway from IPV to depression (Marçal, 2021). Intimate partner violence is a leading cause of housing insecurity and homelessness, and experiences of IPV put parents at four times greater risk for late rent payments or frequent moves (Pavao et al, 2007).…”