COMPARING THE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS OF SHELTER HOME RESIDENTS WITH AND WITHOUT A HISTORY OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE

Abstract

Depression and anxiety are among the common mental health challenges that are experienced by the survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Despite the detrimental
consequences of depression, anxiety and IPV, there is sparse knowledge on the prevalence and clinical manifestations of these trio phenomena among survivors of IPV at shelter homes in Malaysia. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety and each type of IPV and compare the symptoms of depression and anxiety experienced by survivors of each type of IPV. This cross-sectional study conveniently collected data from four Malaysian shelter homes. Young women aged 15 and above who gave informed consent and fulfilled the selection criteria were enrolled in the study voluntarily. The tools are; i) the WHO Multi-country Study on Women’s Health and Life Events Questionnaire which assessed the background sociodemographic of participants and previous partners as well as the experience of each type of violence; controlling behaviour, physical violence, sexual violence, and emotional violence; ii) Patient Health Questionnaire (9-Items) which screen for depressive symptoms; iii) Generalized Anxiety Disorder (7-Items) which determine Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD); and
iv) the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview to confirm the diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Most survivors (86.8%) reported experience of any form of
IPV throughout their lifetime. The most reported type of IPV was controlling behaviour by an intimate partner (82.4%), emotional violence (59.3%), sexual violence (58.2%), and physical violence by an intimate partner (29.7%). About 68.1% of participants had GAD and 54.9% had MDD. Survivors of emotional and sexual violence significantly have higher total scores, and all the symptoms of anxiety compared to those without that violence. The symptoms of depression that survivors of sexual violence significantly experience are physical symptoms including sleep problems, poor appetite or overeating, and psychomotor retardation or agitation. Survivors of emotional violence significantly had higher psychological symptoms of depression such as lack of interest or pleasure, poor concentration and difficulty in functioning. Survivors of physical violence significantly experienced only a lack of interest or pleasure compared to those who had notexperienced physical violence. Survivors of IPV are suffering from depression, anxiety and other impacts of IPV. Mental health professionals and shelter home authorities should collaborate to provide effective interventions to manage these disturbances so that the survivors can have an optimum quality of life.