City Research Online

Abstract

While there is evidence that social support can mitigate mental illness symptoms associated with intimate partner violence (IPV), there is a need to explore if social support can promote positive mental health. In this New Zealand (NZ) population-based study of women who had experienced physical and/or sexual violence (n = 453), structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that most facets of social support (friends, family, and neighbors) had a significant correlation with each dimension of positive mental health, as measured by Keyes’ Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF). Safety from IPV (no recent IPV experience) is a prerequisite before social support can assist women to attain positive mental health. Further work is required to ensure friends, family, and communities have the knowledge and resources to provide effective social support.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This article has been published in Violence Against Women by SAGE. Reuse is restricted to non-commercial and no derivative uses.
Publisher Keywords:	intimate partner violence, social support, positive mental health, New Zealand
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Departments:	School of Policy & Global Affairs > Violence and Society Centre
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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