Unemployment among women: examining the relationship of physical and psychological intimate partner violence and posttraumatic stress disorder

J Interpers Violence. 2009 Mar;24(3):450-63. doi: 10.1177/0886260508317191. Epub 2008 May 5.

Abstract

Prior research has demonstrated that intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with employment instability among poor women. The current study assesses the broader relationship between IPV and women's workforce participation in a population-based sample of 6,698 California women. We examined past-year IPV by analyzing specific effects of physical violence, psychological violence, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as predictors of unemployment. Results indicated substantial rates of unemployment among women who reported IPV, with rates of 20% among women who experienced psychological violence, 18% among women who experienced physical violence, and 19% among women with PTSD symptoms. When the relationship was adjusted for demographic characteristics and educational attainment, PTSD (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22, 2.09) and psychological violence (AOR = 1.78; 95% CI = 1.36, 2.32), but not physical violence, were associated with unemployment. Implications for supported employment programs and workplace responses to IPV are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Battered Women / psychology
  • Battered Women / statistics & numerical data*
  • California / epidemiology
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Crime Victims / psychology
  • Crime Victims / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Sexual Partners
  • Spouse Abuse / psychology
  • Spouse Abuse / statistics & numerical data*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
  • Unemployment / psychology
  • Unemployment / statistics & numerical data*
  • Women's Health