Keywords

childhood maltreatment, immune status, intimate partner violence, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Authors

1. Woods, Stephanie J. PhD, RN
2. Wineman, N. Margaret PhD, RN
3. Page, Gayle G. DNSc, RN, FAAN
4. Hall, Rosalie J. PhD
5. Alexander, Thomas S. PhD
6. Campbell, Jacquelyn C. PhD, RN, FAAN

Abstract

This study uses a predictive exploratory design to test the relationships between and among childhood maltreatment, intimate partner violence (IPV), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and immune status in abused women. A convenience sample of 126 abused women and 12 nonabused women matched for age and race/ethnicity were recruited. The woman's current smoking habit, history of childhood maltreatment, experience of IPV, and PTSD symptoms predicted immune status. This prediction occurs through both direct and indirect pathways from IPV to immune status and from IPV to immune status through PTSD.