Women who have faced domestic violence may continue to suffer from serious mental health issues nearly three decades after the abuse ends, new research has found.
A study by the University of Glasgow shows that the mental toll of domestic violence — including conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and sleep problems — can last for almost 30 years.
The study also highlights a strong link between domestic abuse and traumatic brain injury (TBI), further worsening long-term mental health.
Published in BMJ Mental Health, the research is titled Intimate Partner Violence, Traumatic Brain Injury and Long-Term Mental Health Outcomes in Mid-Life: The Drake IPV Study. Experts behind the study believe this topic has been largely overlooked.
The research used data from the wider PREVENT Dementia Study. Among 632 women aged 40 to 59, 14% reported a history of physical abuse by a partner. Those with such a history were significantly more likely to have experienced a traumatic brain injury and to report long-lasting mental health conditions.
Despite the abuse having ended on average 27 years earlier, the risk of ongoing mental health issues remained. These included both new and existing diagnoses of depression, PTSD, anxiety, and sleep disorders.
In particular, women who had suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of the abuse were more likely to report ongoing PTSD and other mental health problems.
The study was supported by funding from the Drake Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Medical Research Council, NHS Research Scotland, the Alzheimer’s Society, and the Alzheimer’s Association.
Professor Willie Stewart, one of the study’s lead researchers, said: “Given its prevalence, these findings highlight domestic violence as a public health issue with long-lasting effects on brain health. Our work also reinforces the need for more research in this previously neglected area.”
Dr. Graciela Muniz-Terrera, a co-author, added: “This study shows why researchers need to ask about experiences of domestic violence in population studies. Only by doing so can we understand its long-term impact.”
The researchers urge healthcare systems and policymakers to treat domestic violence not only as a social issue but also as a serious public health concern with effects that can persist for decades.
