摘要：Objectives . We examined the long-term health consequences of relationship violence in adulthood. Methods . Using data from the Welfare, Children, and Families project (1999 and 2001), a probability sample of 2402 low-income women with children living in disadvantaged neighborhoods in Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; and San Antonio, Texas, we predicted changes in the frequency of intoxication, psychological distress, and self-rated health over 2 years with baseline measures of relationship violence and a host of relevant background variables. Results . Our analyses showed that psychological aggression predicted increases in psychological distress, whereas minor physical assault and sexual coercion predicted increases in the frequency of intoxication. There was no evidence to suggest that relationship violence in adulthood predicted changes in self-rated health. Conclusions . Experiences with relationship violence beyond the formative and developmental years of childhood and adolescence can have far-reaching effects on the health status of disadvantaged urban women. Over the past 2 decades, numerous studies have examined the long-term health consequences of relationship violence during childhood. This body of research suggests that physical and sexual abuse in early life can be devastating to health in adulthood, contributing to poor mental 1 – 6 and physical health 3 – 5 , 7 and to higher rates of substance abuse. 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 These patterns are remarkably consistent across studies and notably persistent through the life course. In a recent study of more than 21 000 older adults, Draper et al. 3 reported that physical and sexual abuse before 15 years of age is associated with poor mental and physical health well into late life. Although previous research has made significant contributions to our understanding of the lasting effects of abuse in early life, few studies have considered the long-term health consequences of relationship violence in adulthood. Our review of the literature revealed 5 longitudinal studies of relationship violence and health in adulthood. Not surprisingly, research suggests that women who experience relationship violence in adulthood are vulnerable to poor health trajectories, including increases in depressive symptoms, 10 – 12 functional impairment, 10 , 12 and alcohol consumption. 13 , 14 Relationship violence is an important issue in all segments of society; however, studies consistently show that women of low socioeconomic status exhibit higher rates of intimate partner victimization than do their more affluent counterparts. 15 – 17 For example, Tolman and Raphael 17 reported that between 34% and 65% of women receiving welfare report having experienced some form of relationship violence in their lifetime, and between 8% and 33% experience some form of relationship violence each year, levels that surpass those for women overall. 18 Research also shows that residence in disadvantaged neighborhoods 19 , 20 and the presence of children in the household 21 , 22 may elevate the odds of relationship violence. Given their high violence-risk profile, attention must be directed to the patterns and health consequences of intimate partner victimization in the lives of disadvantaged urban women with children. 23 – 25 Building on previous research, we used data collected from a large probability sample of low-income women with children living in low-income neighborhoods in Boston, Massachusetts, Chicago, Illinois, and San Antonio, Texas, to predict changes in the frequency of intoxication, psychological distress, and self-rated health over 2 years with measures of relationship violence in early life and adulthood and a host of relevant background variables. In accordance with previous research, we expected that intimate partner victimization in adulthood would predict increases in psychological distress and the frequency of intoxication and decreases in self-rated health over the study period.
