Women’s Reports of Suicidality as a Result of Intimate Partner Violence

The link between intimate partner violence (IPV) and suicidality has been well-established in empirical literature; yet, these phenomena are typically measured independently and associated via statistical tests. The purpose of this study was to assess whether women reported suicidality directly due to their experiences of IPV victimization. Data were collected from 150 women who experienced IPV and were receiving civil legal services in a Midwest state in the United States. Women were asked if they ever had suicidal thoughts, made suicidal gestures, made a plan for suicide, or attempted suicide as a result of the abuse they experienced from their intimate partner. Women were also asked about suicidality as a result of childhood maltreatment, along with aspects of well-being. Nearly 45% of the sample (n = 67) reported some form of suicidality as a result of IPV. There were no group differences in women’s reports of suicidality (lifetime-only, past year/lifetime, none) with respect to any sociodemographic characteristics; however, physical IPV was greater among women who reported both past year and lifetime suicidality compared to women who reported no suicidality (p = .027). Group differences in suicidality were also associated with depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, interpersonal support, and empowerment. The study findings demonstrate a more nuanced link between IPV and suicidality, which have implications for IPV and suicide prevention and future data collection efforts.