Effects of Intimate Partner Violence, Mental Health, and Social Support on Perinatal Health

The current study proposes (1) to examine the effect of IPV exposure on pregnancy and labor morbidity; (2) to assess prenatal mental health as a mediator of the direct pathway, and (3) to examine the moderating role of social support on the direct and indirect pathways. Participants (n=76) were interviewed at the WIC office during pregnancy and 6 weeks post-delivery. Hayes’ (2013) PROCESS macro for moderated mediation was used with mental health as mediator and social support as moderator. No direct effect of IPV exposure on either pregnancy or labor morbidity was found. There was an indirect effect of IPV on labor morbidity via mental health but no moderation. Posthoc analyses found parallel indirect effects of IPV on labor morbidity via mental health and social support. Clinical interventions targeting prenatal mental health and social support may help to improve labor outcomes for IPV-exposed mothers.