A Latent Class Analysis Characterizing Patterns of Intimate Partner Violence Victimization in a Missouri Sample of...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Mental Health
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health concern associated with adverse mental health outcomes, including substance use disorder (SUD).
• Limited understanding exists regarding the specific patterns of IPV experienced by individuals with SUD.
• This study employed a person-centered approach to identify distinct IPV victimization experiences and their links to behavioral health within SUD treatment populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the heterogeneity of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization patterns among adults undergoing substance use disorder (SUD) treatment.
• To examine the association between identified IPV patterns and behavioral health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and substance use.

Main Methods:

• A latent class analysis (LCA) was utilized to classify patterns of IPV victimization in 359 adult participants receiving SUD treatment.
• IPV was assessed using the Composite Abuse Scale-Revised Short Form, categorizing experiences as never, lifetime, or current.
• Multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the relationship between IPV class membership and behavioral health outcomes, controlling for demographic factors.

Main Results:

• Over 65% of participants reported experiencing some form of IPV (past or current).
• A five-class solution best represented IPV experiences: Never (34.5%), Current Multiple (24.8%), Past Multiple (19.8%), Current Emotional (12.5%), and Past Emotional (8.4%).
• Individuals in 'Current Multiple' and 'Past Multiple' IPV classes showed significantly higher odds of moderate to severe depression and anxiety compared to the 'Never' class; however, IPV class was not associated with recent non-medical drug use.

Conclusions:

• IPV experiences among adults in SUD treatment are diverse, with emotional abuse being particularly prevalent in this clinical sample.
• Polyvictimization (experiencing multiple forms of IPV) is associated with increased severity of mental health issues, potentially hindering SUD recovery.
• There is a critical need for integrated, trauma-informed mental health services and comprehensive IPV screening within SUD treatment settings.