Depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation associated with women’s experience of recent economic intimate partner violence in Gauteng, South Africa: A cross-sectional study

PLOS Glob Public Health. 2025 Dec 22;5(12):e0005390. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0005390. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the prevalence of economic intimate partner violence (IPV) and its association with mental health outcomes among women in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Economic IPV, involving controlling behaviours related to employment, earnings, housing, and financial support, is a critical yet understudied form of abuse with potential impacts on women’s mental health. A secondary analysis was conducted using data from a representative survey of 491 women collected in 2010. Past-year economic IPV and other IPV forms were assessed through an adapted World Health Organization questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale, and suicidal ideation was assessed for the past four weeks. Multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for socio-economic status, child abuse, partner control, other IPV types, and life trauma were employed to examine associations between economic IPV, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation. Results showed that 9% of women experienced past-year economic IPV, 24.2% reported depressive symptoms, and 8% had suicidal thoughts in the prior month. After adjusting for confounders, economic IPV remained significantly associated with increased odds of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. Younger women (18-24 years) were more likely to report suicidal thoughts than older women. These findings highlight economic IPV as a significant and often overlooked form of abuse that co-occurs with other IPV types and has strong links to adverse mental health outcomes. The study demonstrates the need for integrated approaches that combine economic empowerment and mental health support within gender-based violence services in Gauteng, South Africa. Policies should prioritize accessible, youth-friendly interventions with an emphasis on early detection and support for vulnerable young women, including those out of school. Although the cross-sectional data limits causal inference, the evidence calls for ongoing community-based programs addressing economic abuse as part of comprehensive violence prevention and mental health promotion efforts.

PMID:41428710 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pgph.0005390