COVID-19 in Mexico:

Intimate Partner Violence Associated with Sociodemographic Characteristics, Daily Functioning, and Mental Health

Authors

  • Ana Esther Escalante Ferrer Autonomous University of the State of Morelos, Morelos, State of Mexico
  • Cecilia Martinez - Torteya University of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
  • Teresita Morfin Lopez Jesuit University of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3994-3025

Keywords:

COVID-19, intimate partner violence, mental health, interpersonal relationships, gender differences

Abstract

The aim of this research is to evaluate the changes in daily functioning of those exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown. The database is part of a cross sectional PSY-Covid international study. Our study is focused on the information gathered in Mexico by researchers in 11 private and public universities. Participants were 7693 individuals,
aged 16 to 83, who completed an online questionnaire. Results show that being younger of age, identifying as non-binary or transgender, having low academic attainment, and low socioeconomic status, were associated with IPV during the lockdown. We used ANCOVA to compare those exposed to IPV during the lockdown and those not exposed in the full sample, and then conducted analyses by gender.
Although both groups reported negative changes in their work activity and economics during the pandemic, those exposed to IPV reported more negative impacts in income, work activities, partner and family relationships, and relationships with neighbors, as well as higher levels of depression, anxiety, and somatization symptoms. In terms of gender differences, women reported IPV was associated with more negative impacts in income, relationships with friends, and relationships with neighbors. Our findings are among the first to document the differential effects of the pandemic on those exposed to IPV and suggest negative impacts in a wide range of areas of daily functioning and mental health.

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Author Biographies

Ana Esther Escalante Ferrer, Autonomous University of the State of Morelos, Morelos, State of Mexico

Mexican. D. in Education from the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos. Research professor at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos. Research interests: Gender studies.

E-mail: anaescalante7@hotmail.com

Cecilia Martinez - Torteya, University of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico

Mexican. D. in Psychology from Michigan State University. Research Professor at the University of Monterrey. Research interests: Impacts of interpersonal violence and its intergenerational effects.

E-mail: cecilia.martinez-torteya@udem.edu

Teresita Morfin Lopez, Jesuit University of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

Mexican. PhD in Communication and Humanities from the University of La Coruña, Spain. Research professor at the Jesuit University of Guadalajara (ITESO), research lines: intersubjectivity, gender and cultural processes.

E-mail: teremor@iteso.mx

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Published

2022-09-14

How to Cite

Escalante Ferrer, A. E., Martinez - Torteya, C., & Morfin Lopez, T. (2022). COVID-19 in Mexico:: Intimate Partner Violence Associated with Sociodemographic Characteristics, Daily Functioning, and Mental Health. Géneroos, 29(31), 37–63. Retrieved from https://revistasacademicas.ucol.mx/index.php/generos/article/view/450

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Research articles