Increase of perceived frequency of neighborhood domestic violence is associated with increase of women's depression symptoms in a nationally representative longitudinal study in South Africa. (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meffert, Susan M.; McCulloch, Charles E.; Neylan, Thomas C.; Gandhi, Monica; Lund, Crick
• Is Part Of: Social science & medicine. Volume 131(2015)
• Page Start: 89
• Page End: 97
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: Depression -- Domestic violence -- Women's mental health -- Longitudinal -- Neighborhood violence -- Mental health -- South Africa -- National income dynamics study; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine sociale -- Périodiques; Anthropologie médicale -- Périodiques; Santé publique -- Périodiques; Psychologie -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.03.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-9536

Abstract

Abstract: Studies that examine the effects of neighborhood characteristics on mental health show that perceptions of general neighborhood violence are associated with depression across diverse populations (Clark et al., 2008; Velez-Gomez et al., 2013; Wilson-Genderson & Pruchno, 2013). However, to our knowledge, none have examined the specific effect of perceived frequency of neighborhood domestic violence (PFNDV) on residents' mental health, despite knowledge that domestic violence is a potent predictor of depression at the level of the individual. This study investigates the impact of PFNDV on mental health using the South African National Income Dynamics Study (SA-NIDS). NIDS Waves 2 and 3 measure the perceived frequency of six neighborhood violence subtypes through the NIDS household respondent questionnaire and depression through a questionnaire administered to all NIDS participants. Linear regression was used to model the relationship between change in depression symptoms and change in violence subtypes between Waves 2 and 3. We found that two-year increase in PFNDV was significantly correlated with increase of depression symptoms over the same time period for women, independently of individual, household and neighborhood level characteristics, including five other types of neighborhood violence. No other type of violence was associated with increased depression in women in the fully adjusted model. Research and policy implications are discussed. Highlights: Study measures association of neighborhood violence (5 types) and depression symptoms. Increase in perceived neighborhood DV is associated with increase in women's depression. Implications for population approaches to women's mental health are discussed.