Cortisol awakening response among women exposed to intimate partner violence. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pinto, Ricardo J.; Correia-Santos, Patrícia; Costa-Leite, Joana; Levendosky, Alytia A.; Jongenelen, Inês
• Is Part Of: Psychoneuroendocrinology. Volume 74(2016:Dec.)
• Page Start: 57
• Page End: 64
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Cortisol awakening response -- Intimate partner violence -- Social support; Psychoneuroendocrinology -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Neuropsychoendocrinologie -- Périodiques; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.08.024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4530

Abstract

Highlights: Few studies on CAR in female victims of intimate partner violence. Previous findings are contradictory. This study suggests that female victims of IPV have different HPA axis activity. Chronic severe violence is associated with cortisol non-responding. Abstract: The studies of the effects of intimate partner violence (IPV) on the cortisol awakening response (CAR) are scarce and contradictory. While some of the studies suggested that female victims of IPV showed high CAR, other studies found low CAR. Mixed results may be related to differences in sample characteristics as well as other potential covariates associated with the cortisol, as femalés history of abuse, chronicity, severity and type of IPV, psychological distress, posttraumatic stress disorder, and social support. The study examined individual differences in CAR among 149 female victims of severe IPV reported to authorities, including 76 (51%) living in shelter and 73 (49%) living with the abusive partners. Results revealed several individual differences in CAR that may contribute to understanding the mixed results found in literature, including women with cortisol that decreased between the baseline and 30 min later, women with no increase of cortisol, and women whose cortisol increased above baseline. Additionally, women without CAR experienced more chronic and severe violence, more psychological distress and PTSD symptoms. However, hierarchical multiple regression indicated that chronic severe violence was the only independent variable that significantly explained 13% of the variance in CAR, even after including all covariates in the model, and adjusting for sociodemographic variables. In conclusion, this study suggests that the HPA axis dysregulation is influenced by chronic severe violence among women victims of IPV.