The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the relationship between women's experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) and depressive symptoms. Physical IPV is the most common type of abuse inflicted on women, compared to rape and stalking. It is associated with psychological sequelae including depressive symptoms, an indicator of poor mental health problem. College women are victims of physical IPV as well. Psychological sequelae associated with college women's victimization are influential in their lives. Intimate partner violence extends to the workplace resulting in negative social and economic consequences. Therefore, measures of IPV at the workplace are highly needed.
Four manuscripts compose this dissertation. The first manuscript is a literature review investigating the relationship between physical abuse and the development of depressive symptoms in women. The second manuscript examines the relationship between physical IPV and depressive symptoms among college women using selected criteria of causality identified by Bradford Hill (1965). The third manuscript evaluates the causal relationship between physical IPV and depressive symptoms among college women. Finally, the fourth manuscript tests the psychometric properties, including reliability and construct validity, of the modified version of the worksite harassment tool.
The four manuscripts that compose this dissertation explore the significance of intimate partner violence and depressive symptoms in the lives of women. The review paper indicated that the impact of physical IPV on depressive symptoms was studied within the context of other types of intimate partner violence or within the context of lifetime abuse during childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. Targeting college women, the prevalence of physical IPV and depressive symptoms were 17.3% and 29.4%, respectively. Physical IPV was a significant predictor for depressive symptoms β = .13, p = .02). Intimate partner violence at the workplace is a significant form of intimate partner violence. The short version of the worksite harassment tool (7-item) was a valid and reliable measure of IPV. Cronbach's alpha for the measure was .86. Findings from these manuscripts can be used to provide directions for future research targeting different aspects of violence in intimate relationships.
Key Words: Intimate partner violence, Depressive symptoms, Women, College women, Work site.
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