Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a form of gender-based violence that disproportionately affects women compared to men. It is well established that IPV contributes to depression and PTSD, and that many partner-abusive men continue to perpetuate abuse even after relationships end. Additionally, when men harm their partners, they are more likely to harm their children, and evidence suggests that this harm continues post-separation. Yet, little research has been conducted on men's harm to their children as an extension of IPV perpetration, with even less known about the mental health impact this form of abuse has on women. For this study, 40 partner-abused mothers who had separated, or were planning to separate, from an abusive partner with whom they shared children were recruited. In this longitudinal, cohort study women were interviewed four times over one year. Multi-level modeling (MLM) was used to nest time within participants. Between-women differences, as well as intraindividual change over time, on women's depression and PTSD were investigated. Using MLM, the author examined the impact of physical IPV, nonphysical IPV, and harm to children on women's depression and PTSD. In general, higher levels of physical IPV and nonphysical IPV were related to higher levels of depression and PTSD; however, once men's harm to children was entered into the model, only men's harm to children remained significant. Men's physical abuse perpetration over time was related to subsequent increases in depression and PTSD over time. The results of this study provide preliminary evidence that men's harm to children is an important form of IPV and should be included in future research.
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