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Background <p>Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a global public health problem linked to adverse mental health outcomes. Population-based evidence from Nepal, where IPV remains prevalent, is limited, and its mental health impact remains unexplored. This study assessed the association between different forms and combinations of IPV and depression and anxiety symptoms among women of reproductive age in Nepal, and to quantify the public health impact of IPV elimination.</p> Methods <p>This cross-sectional study used nationally representative data from the 2022 Nepal Demographic Health Survey, including 4,523 women aged 15 to 49 who were interviewed for the domestic violence module. IPV in the last 12 months was measured using standard questionnaire from DHS. Depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) respectively. Multivariable logistic regressions adjusted for confounding factors, were conducted to assess the association between IPV and depression and anxiety symptoms. Population Attributable Fraction (PAF) was calculated to estimate the proportion of depression/anxiety symptoms preventable by eliminating IPV.</p> Results <p>Women who experienced any form of IPV in the last 12 months had significantly higher odds of depression symptoms (Prevalence odds ratio (PrOR):2.96; 95% CI: 2.09–4.21) and anxiety symptoms (PrOR:2.16; 95% CI:1.59–2.94) compared to unexposed women. Emotional violence showed strong association with depression (PrOR: 3.38; 95% CI: 2.31–4.94) and anxiety symptoms (PrOR, 2.48; 95% CI: 1.77–3.48) compared to unexposed women. Women who experienced all three forms of IPV (physical, sexual, and emotional) in last 12 months had the highest odds of depression (PrOR: 6.33; 95% CI: 3.53–11.33) and anxiety symptoms (PrOR: 3.71; 95% CI: 1.99–6.92) when compared to unexposed women. PAF analysis indicated that eliminating any IPV form could prevent 28.5% (range: 18.3%-37.5%) of depression and 18.8% (range: 10.8%-26.0%) of anxiety symptoms in this population.</p> Conclusions <p>IPV is significantly associated with depression and anxiety, with a strong association observed for multiple forms of violence. These results highlight the urgent need for integrated public health interventions addressing IPV as a central strategy to improve women’s mental health in Nepal.</p>

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Unseen burden: depression and anxiety associated with intimate partner violence among Nepalese women

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月11日

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  • Anil Sigdel,
  • Ashmin Hari Bhattarai,
  • Morayo Akande,
  • Anu Bista,
  • Resham Badhur Khatri,
  • Aruna Chandran

摘要

Background

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a global public health problem linked to adverse mental health outcomes. Population-based evidence from Nepal, where IPV remains prevalent, is limited, and its mental health impact remains unexplored. This study assessed the association between different forms and combinations of IPV and depression and anxiety symptoms among women of reproductive age in Nepal, and to quantify the public health impact of IPV elimination.

Methods

This cross-sectional study used nationally representative data from the 2022 Nepal Demographic Health Survey, including 4,523 women aged 15 to 49 who were interviewed for the domestic violence module. IPV in the last 12 months was measured using standard questionnaire from DHS. Depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) respectively. Multivariable logistic regressions adjusted for confounding factors, were conducted to assess the association between IPV and depression and anxiety symptoms. Population Attributable Fraction (PAF) was calculated to estimate the proportion of depression/anxiety symptoms preventable by eliminating IPV.

Results

Women who experienced any form of IPV in the last 12 months had significantly higher odds of depression symptoms (Prevalence odds ratio (PrOR):2.96; 95% CI: 2.09–4.21) and anxiety symptoms (PrOR:2.16; 95% CI:1.59–2.94) compared to unexposed women. Emotional violence showed strong association with depression (PrOR: 3.38; 95% CI: 2.31–4.94) and anxiety symptoms (PrOR, 2.48; 95% CI: 1.77–3.48) compared to unexposed women. Women who experienced all three forms of IPV (physical, sexual, and emotional) in last 12 months had the highest odds of depression (PrOR: 6.33; 95% CI: 3.53–11.33) and anxiety symptoms (PrOR: 3.71; 95% CI: 1.99–6.92) when compared to unexposed women. PAF analysis indicated that eliminating any IPV form could prevent 28.5% (range: 18.3%-37.5%) of depression and 18.8% (range: 10.8%-26.0%) of anxiety symptoms in this population.

Conclusions

IPV is significantly associated with depression and anxiety, with a strong association observed for multiple forms of violence. These results highlight the urgent need for integrated public health interventions addressing IPV as a central strategy to improve women’s mental health in Nepal.