Estresse entre mulheres com e sem histórico de violência perpetrada pelo parceiro íntimo

Abstract

Introduction: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) constitutes one of the most prevalent forms of abuse against women, representing a significant global public health concern. IPV entails comprehensive negative consequences, including psychological stress, which, in turn, can result in various physical and mental health impairments. Objective: The general objective was to assess the perception of stress among women with and without a history of intimate partner violence throughout their lives and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the municipality of Vitória, Espírito Santo. The specific objectives were to describe the perception of stress among women with a history of lifetime violence, considering sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics, and to examine the perception of stress among women with and without a history of intimate partner violence, both in their lifetime and during the pandemic. Methods: This was a cross-sectional epidemiological study conducted with 1086 women. Sociodemographic, reproductive, violence history, and perceived stress information were collected. Intimate partner violence was assessed using the World Health Organization instrument, while psychological stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale. Descriptive analyses were expressed in absolute frequencies, relative frequencies, and a 95% Confidence Interval. For bivariate analyses, t-tests and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were employed, while multivariate analyses were conducted using simple and multiple linear regression. Stata® version 15.1 and R® software were used for statistical analyses. Results: Among women who reported experiencing intimate partner violence throughout their lives, the following characteristics were related with higher mean stress perception scores (p<0.05): younger age (20.47), consensual union (19.84), residence in rented houses (19.75), absence of religion (20.19), government assistance receipt (20.81), first sexual intercourse before the age of 15 (19.68), history of sexually transmitted infections (20.98), and partner's refusal to use condoms (20.50). Women who reported experiencing IPV throughout their lives had higher stress averages (18.49), with an unadjusted mean increase of 4 points, later reduced to 3.5 points after considering sociodemographic variables. Similarly, during the COVID-19 pandemic (19.01), an average stress increase of 3.3 points was observed, subsequently reduced to 2.8 points following adjustments. Conclusion: The results indicate an association between intimate partner violence and heightened stress perception in women, spanning both their lifetimes and the pandemic period. The importance of preventive approaches is emphasized, advocating for gender equality and early IPV prevention. Furthermore, the urgency of evidence-based, comprehensive interventions is highlighted, aiming to address this complex issue meticulously and effectively while emphasizing the importance of considering specific vulnerabilities when developing interventions.