Intimate Partner Abuse: What are the impacts on women mental health well being in the UK

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to take this chance for thanking my research facilitator, friends & family for support they provided & their belief in me as Vestasll as guidance they provided without which I would have never been able to do this research.

DECLARATION

I, (Your name), would like to declare that all contents included in this thesis/dissertation stand for my individual work without any aid, & this thesis/dissertation has not been submitted for any examination at academic as Vestasll as professional level previously. It is also representing my very own views & not essentially which are associated with university.

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Abstract

The research has been conducted to identify the prevalence of the intimate partner abuse and to identify the effect of this abuse on the mental health wellbeing of women. The research has used a qualitative research method and interview as a research tool. The interview has helped the researcher in identifying the main mental health effects that are caused by the intimate partner abuse. The research has shown that several women have experienced various types of abuses in their current relationship with their intimate partners. The research has found critical adverse mental health effects for women that get abused by intimate partners. Depression and PTSD symptoms are largely identified in women that experience the intimate partner abuse.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background1

Problem Statement2

Purpose of Research2

Research Aims and Objectives2

Research Questions3

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW4

Overview of Intimate Partner Violence4

Background: mental health and violence5

The evolution of understanding about partner violence and women's mental health5

Historical Perspectives of Intimate Partner Abuse6

Psychological Abuse by Intimate Partners7

Sexual Abuse by Intimate Partners8

Stalking8

Does Victimization Impact Women's Mental Health?8

Intimate Partner Abuse: Impact on Mental Health11

IPV and the global epidemic of mental disorders14

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOY16

Research Approach16

Research Instrument17

Research Philosophies18

Sampling22

Internal Validity22

External Validity23

Ethical Considerations23

CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSIONS25

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION32

REFERENCES37

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Background

Intimate Partner abuse represents an international public health issue. The intimate partner abuse can result in long-term and short-term mental health problems in women. Intimate partner abuse has been associated with a rise of psychoactive use of substance, depression, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicide, depression and anxiety. On the other hand, and despite the plentiful literature on the effects of partner abuse on mental health of women; several parts are still not clear (Mechanic, 2004, p.1283).

Eventually, intimate partner abuse has been studied in several developing and developed countries. UK remains one of the few large civilisations for which the correlates and prevalence of intimate partner abuse are still not known. Regardless of the fact that it has become a main concern in the political agenda of UK. Several women were killed by their intimate partners in the last year (Arias, 1999). The research adds to the present literature by offering information on the magnitude of intimate partner violence in UK, by explaining the separate effects of sexual, psychological and physical intimate partner violence on mental health, in a sample of women from UK (Gleason, 1993, ...