Intimate Partner Violence and physical diseases: an exploratory study

Abstract

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a transversal phenomenon that affects a significant number of women and
female adolescents in the world. Although several and numerous studies have investigated various negative
consequences associated with exposure to IPV, few have focused on the physical diseases associated with
exposure to physical, psychological, and sexual violence. The present study aims to analyze the association
between past or present IPV victimization and the presence of physical disease, in particular, investigating the
unique contribution of physical, psychological, and sexual violence on IPV victims’ likelihood of reporting
physical diseases diagnoses by surveying 133 women victims of IPV recruited from various anti-violence
centers (CAV). The results showed that women who experienced psychological violence were more at risk of
reporting cardiovascular disorders and a diagnosis of benign neoplasm; moreover, women who believed that
their physical disease was linked to exposure to IPV showed a higher presence of gastrointestinal disorders.
The results are discussed, along with possible applications for prevention and intervention strategies.