From a feminist perspective: An investigation of the relationship among dual diagnosis, intimate partner violence, and parenting stress

Severe mental illness, substance misuse, and intimate partner violence (IPV) have emerged as major intersecting public health problems that adversely and disproportionately impact the lives of women in the U.S., particularly in urban areas of the nation (El-Bassel, at al. 2003; Liebschutz, et al. 2000; RachBeisel, Scott, & Dixon, 1999; Resnick, Acierno, & Kilpatrick, 1997). Moreover, many women who have a mental illness co-occurring with a substance use disorder (dual diagnosis) are also raising children (Mowbray, 2001; Nicholson, 2001). For example, women with severe mental illness and their children are at greater risk for emotional, behavior, and developmental difficulties, particularly in the absence of programs targeting intervention and prevention activities (Nicholson & Beibel, 2002).;The sample (379) of predominately low income, African American women was investigated across demographic, clinical, substance use, and sociological domains. This research was guided by the following questions, (1) How do demographic characteristics, psychiatric, and sociological factors affect intimate partner violence and (2) How do demographic characteristics, psychiatric, and sociological factors and the experience of intimate partner violence affect parenting stress?;Results indicate that mothers with dual diagnosis were more likely to experience intimate partner violence than women with a single diagnosis. Predictors of IPV with a positive correlation included number of lifetime hospitalizations, financial hassles, self-report of parenting being positive. Age was negatively related to IPV, consistent with previous literature. Parenting stress in this sample was predicted by the experience of IPV, financial hassles, symptomatology, duration of mental illness, and the self-report that parenting is a burden. Education was negatively correlated with parenting stress.;The results of this study indicate that even when sociodemographic and psychiatric factors are taken into account, sociological factors make an additional significant contribution to social outcomes, e.g., intimate partner violence and parenting stress, in the lives of women with severe mental illness.