Long-term Trends in Depression among Women Separated from Abusive Partners

Abstract

This study tested a cumulative adversity hypothesis, where differences in postseparation stressors among battered women were expected to lead to a widening gap in levels of women's depression over time. Ninety-four women separated from their abusive partners were interviewed six times over a 2-year period. Consistent with the hypothesis, inequalities grew over time. Women who were exposed to the greatest amount of violence and secondary stressors shortly after shelter exit experienced relatively higher levels of depression that either did not improve or significantly increased with time. Social support was the only resource to have the hypothesized decreasing effect on depression.