Intimate partner violence, economic abuse, depression, & anxiety: Impacts on later economic outcomes for women with children

Background: Low-income women are at greater risk for Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and associated mental health impacts. While the nature and extent of physical and emotional abuse has been detailed, Economic Abuse (EA) is less understood. EA co-occurs with physical and emotional IPV, and includes the use of exploitative or controlling tactics to destroy access to economic resources and prevent economic decision-making. The extent of EA in non-sheltered populations is unknown, and the economic impact is untested. Aims: This study assess the extent of EA in a nationwide sample, and the impact of previous experiences of EA, IPV, and mental health correlates of IPV on later economic outcomes. Methods: Using data from waves four and five of the Fragile Families Child Wellbeing Study, the extent of EA and IPV among mothers is tested. Logistic Regression is used to assess the impact of IPV & EA on economic outcomes, and mediation models assess the role of Mental Health in this relationship. Results: 14.16% of respondents reported experiencing EA, which was found to increase odds of public service receipt and material hardship, while decreasing odds of asset ownership and being above the poverty line. Depression and Anxiety were found to mediate the relationship between physical and emotional IPV and later economic outcomes, but not EA with economic outcomes. Conclusions: EA is prevalent among young mothers, and may have direct effects on women's long-term economic stability and safety. IPV intervention and policy should begin to develop responses to support women's economic futures.