Recorded presentation

Mary Ann Dutton, PhD, Stacey Kaltman, PhD, Ayodola Anise, MHS, and Katherine De Meo, BA. Department of Psychiatry, Georgetown University Medical Center, 620 Kober Cogan, 3800 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC 20007, 202-687-1997, mad27@georgetown.edu

Living with the ongoing threat of violence is a reality faced by millions of people worldwide. The research literature has established a clear relationship between exposure to traumatic events and mental health consequences. However, we know little about victims’ perceptions of looming threat. Predominately low income, African-American female victims of IPV (n = 406) were recruited into a longitudinal study from a shelter (n = 68), a civil protection order court (n = 220) and a domestic violence criminal court (n = 118). Hypotheses were that IPV-related threat appraisal 1) significantly predicts mental health outcomes and 2) mediates the relationship between IPV and mental health outcomes. Results show that threat appraisal has a direct and an indirect effect on outcomes. IPV-related threat appraisal predicted level of posttraumatic symptoms (PTS) (β = .51, p = < .000) and depression, (β = .45, p = < .000), but not substance abuse (Hypothesis 1). For Hypothesis 2, we found that threat appraisal partially mediated the relationship between IPV and both PTS (β = .39 vs. .51) and depression (β = .36 vs. .45). IPV (β = .39, p = < .000) and threat appraisal (β = .37, p = < .000) made significant and independent contributions to the prediction of PTS (aR2 = .26). Likewise, IPV (β = .36, p = < .000) and threat appraisal (β = .29, p = < .000) made significant independent contributions to the prediction of depression (aR2 = .28). Implications for public health interventions will be addressed.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the relationship between threat appraisal and mental health outcomes; describe how IPV-related threat appraisal mediates the relationship between IPV and mental health outcomes

Keywords: Mental Health, Domestic Violence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation