Intimate Partner Violence, COVID-19 Stressors, and Intersectionality During the Perinatal Period: Dissecting the Perfect Storm

Abstract

Purpose: Intimate partner violence (IPV) and related stressors increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, uniquely impacting perinatal women during a vulnerable time. This study examined the association between IPV, psychosocial correlates, and COVID-19 stressors. Methods: Our sample included 122 pregnant and postpartum women (average age = 30.1 years; standard deviation = 6.2 years) enrolled in a multisite clinical trial evaluating an IPV-focused intervention for perinatal women who had sought mental health treatment within the last year. Baseline data association between partner abuse (physical, emotional/sexual, severe combined, harassment) and sociodemographic variables was investigated. We analyzed sociodemographic characteristics and measures of Positive Affect and Well Being, Emotional Support, Empowerment, and Self-Efficacy. Furthermore, we conducted an exploratory analysis to examine the role of the intersection between education and employment status on IPV. Results: Participants reporting more COVID-19-related stress (above median) perceived higher emotional abuse than those in the lower half of the stress spectrum (p = 0.04). Partner emotional abuse was inversely associated with Emotional Support (r = −0.26, p = 0.004) and otherwise not correlated with other psychosocial measures. Perinatal women reporting the most abuse were those reporting part-time employment and an educational level of less than a high school diploma. Ethnicity, pregnancy status, and education were all associated with the severe abuse. Conclusion: Overall, we demonstrate associations between greater emotional abuse and greater levels of both COVID-19-related stress and lack of emotional support. Also, multiple, overlapping, sociodemographic characteristics impacted perinatal IPV risk. Results offer promising direction for future research.