Intimate partner violence (IPV) and depression are major health concerns in the United States (U.S.). Studies have shown that women who receive help for IPV have a rate of depression that ranges from 17% to 72% (Warshaw, Barnes, 2003). Additionally, research findings suggest that IPV is more prevalent and severe in low income, African American women compared to women from other racial/ethnic groups and socioeconomic backgrounds. Despite this, there is limited knowledge about the relationship between different forms of IPV and depressive symptoms among African American women and the factors that either increase or decrease risk for depressive symptoms in the context of IPV for this population. The aim of this study is to answer three questions: (a) is IPV associated with depressive symptoms among low-income African American women? (b) what psychological factors are associated with increased IPV among African American women? and (c) are these psychological factors associated with increased depressive symptoms among African American women who have experienced IPV? Results will be discussed along with the limitations and future directions for research and clinical work on these topics.
