Prevalence and Predictors of Spousal Abuse in Women with Depressive Disorders: A Hospital-based Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Background: Married women suffering from spousal abuse is a human rights violation. It is estimated that 32% of Indian married women suffer from spousal abuse. Although depressive disorders are often seen in abused women, the relationship remains indefinite. Aim: To ascertain the prevalence and predictors of spousal abuse in women with depressive disorders. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 172 married women diagnosed with depressive disorder and fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and 170 similar women without any psychiatric illness as control subjects. They were required to answer a socio-demographic and clinical pro forma, the Composite Abuse Scale (CAS), Women’s Experience with Battering (WEB), and Marital Adjustment Questionnaire (MAQ). The data collected were statistically analyzed. Results: Women with depressive disorder had a significantly worse quality of relationship with their husbands than the controls. Subjectively reported emotional, physical, and sexual abuse was significantly higher in patients with depressive disorders compared to control subjects. The most common reason for spousal abuse was alcohol consumption, which was significantly higher in the husbands of the patients with depressive disorders. The scores of the patients with depressive disorder were significantly higher for the CAS and its sub-scales and WEB scale, and were significantly lower for MAQ, as compared to the controls. Conclusion: Depressive disorder in women shows a significant association with spousal abuse.