Intimate Partner Violence and Women's Mental Health in Rural India

This study examines the impact of experiencing verbal, physical, and/or sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) on mental health among 6303 rural married women (age 15-39), in four Indian states: Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. The association between IPV and mental health is widely researched in developed nations, but little information is available for developing countries. The 2002-2003 National Family Health Survey-2 (NFHS-2) Follow-Up Survey data is used for analysis, and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) is used to measure mental health status. The prevalence rate of IPV in the previous 12 months among the respondents is high with 37% reporting verbal violence, 21% reporting physical violence, and 11% reporting sexual violence. Regression models are fitted to identify associations between IPV severity and self-reported mental health symptoms. The results indicate that experiencing physical, verbal, or sexual IPV is associated with an increased risk of adverse mental health outcomes, and that those who report a greater severity of IPV also report more mental health symptoms. Additionally, respondents who have a higher education level, increased level of media exposure, increased financial autonomy, and increased contribution to family earnings are less likely to report adverse mental health outcomes. In contrast, factors including poor economic status or a husband who consumes alcohol, amongst others, negatively impact a woman's mental health status. Our results provide support for the importance of screening for IPV in mental health setting, especially in resource-poor areas where both IPV and mental health are often overlooked.