Background
The mental and physical health consequences of intimate partner violence (IPV) have
been well established, yet little is known about the impact of violence on a woman’s
ability to obtain and maintain housing. This cross-sectional study examines the relationship
between recent IPV and housing instability among a representative sample of California
women. It is expected that women who have experienced IPV will be at increased risk
for housing instability as evidenced by: (1) late rent or mortgage, (2) frequent moves
because of difficulty obtaining affordable housing, and/or (3) without their own housing.
Methods
Data were taken from the 2003 California Women’s Health Survey, a population-based,
random-digit-dial, annual probability survey of adult California women (N=3619). Logistic
regressions were used to predict housing instability in the past 12 months, adjusting
for the following covariates; age, race/ethnicity, education, poverty status, marital
status, children in the household, and past year IPV.
Results
In the multivariate model, age, race/ethnicity, marital status, poverty, and IPV were
significant predictors of housing instability. After adjusting for all covariates,
women who experienced IPV in the last year had almost four times the odds of reporting
housing instability than women who did not experience IPV (adjusted odds ratio=3.98,
95% confidence interval: 2.94–5.39).
Conclusions
This study found that IPV was associated with housing instability among California
women. Future prospective studies are needed to learn more about the nature and direction
of the relationship between IPV and housing instability and the possible associated
negative health consequences.
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© 2007 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
