How Does Poor Mental Health Connect to Violence Against Women?

What you need to know

• Men experiencing depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are about twice as likely to commit violence against women
• Women who experience violence from partners or non-partners are more than twice as likely to develop depression
• Mental health support should be included in programs aimed at preventing violence against women

Understanding the Connection Between Mental Health and Violence

Violence against women is a major public health problem worldwide, with about 35% of women experiencing physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. While research has identified many factors that contribute to violence - like poverty, gender inequality, and substance use - the role of mental health has received less attention, especially in lower income countries.

This research analyzed data from over 7,000 men and 4,500 women across five different settings in Africa and the Middle East to understand how mental health problems like depression and PTSD relate to violence against women.

What the Research Found

Men’s Mental Health and Violence

The study found that men who reported symptoms of depression were about twice as likely to commit physical violence against their intimate partners compared to men without depression. Men with depression were also more likely to commit sexual violence against non-partners, though this connection varied across different locations.

Men experiencing PTSD symptoms were nearly twice as likely to be physically violent with partners and more than twice as likely to commit sexual violence against non-partners. This suggests that poor mental health in men is an important risk factor for violent behavior.

Women’s Mental Health After Experiencing Violence

Among women who experienced violence, whether from partners or non-partners, the risk of developing depression more than doubled. This matches previous research showing that experiencing violence can severely impact women’s mental wellbeing.

Why This Matters for Treatment and Prevention

This research highlights how mental health and violence are interconnected problems that need to be addressed together. The findings point to several important implications:

For Healthcare Providers

• Screening male patients for depression and PTSD may help identify those at risk of committing violence
• Women experiencing violence should be assessed for mental health impacts and offered appropriate support
• Mental health treatment may help prevent violence by addressing underlying issues

For Violence Prevention Programs

• Including mental health components in violence prevention work with men could improve outcomes
• Programs working with women who have experienced violence should incorporate mental health support
• Both prevention and response efforts need to consider how mental health, substance use, and violence interact

Conclusions

• Poor mental health appears to increase men’s risk of committing violence against women
• Women who experience violence face significantly higher risk of developing mental health problems
• Violence prevention efforts should address mental health needs of both men and women
• More research is needed to better understand how different mental health conditions relate to violence