Executive Function Correlates of Women Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Intimate partner violence (IPV) significantly affects victims' physical and mental health. Neurocognitive impairments, particularly in executive functioning, are crucial for daily functionality. However, no reviews or meta-analyses have focused on executive function (EF) alterations or the associated mechanisms contributing to a better understanding. This study aimed to synthesize and analyze differences in EF performance between women victims of IPV and non-victims, while also exploring potential mechanisms underlying these specific impairments. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Searches were performed in the PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases. A random-effects model was employed to calculate pooled effect sizes. A total of 22 studies published between 2002 and 2023 met the inclusion criteria and were included, comprising 1,425 women victims of IPV and non-victims. The meta-analysis revealed moderate to large effects on cognitive flexibility, inhibition, and semantic verbal fluency domains, with IPV victims showing lower performance. Working memory's effect was non-significant. The qualitative synthesis demonstrated poorer phonological verbal fluency, nonverbal fluency, planning, reasoning, decision-making, and working memory. This synthesis also outlined differences observed among women experiencing physical, sexual, and/or psychological abuse, regardless of posttraumatic stress disorder or brain injury (BI). This systematic review and meta-analysis identified specific EF alterations in IPV victims, which may result from BI, psychopathology, or adverse childhood experiences, with their individual contributions requiring exploration in future studies. These findings can inform personalized interventions and decision-making within a legal context.