| Title: | Association between intimate partner violence and risk of self-harm: A population-based study using the UK Biobank |
| Journal: | Journal of Affective Disorders |
| Published: | 14 May 2026 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42134746/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2026.121963 |
Publication 20036
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between IPV victimization and self-harm and whether it varies by IPV characteristics and suicidality.</p>
METHODS: This nested case-control study used data from the UK Biobank. IPV and self-harm were assessed in the 2016-2017 Mental Health Questionnaire. Among 157,298 respondents, 23,566 participants reported with self-harm were age-and-sex matched to 117,830 controls without self-harm. Self-harm was defined as self-reported intentional self-injury or self-poisoning. Conditional logistic regression was performed to estimate odds ratios (ORs) between IPV and self-harm.</p>
RESULTS: The median age at MHQ assessment was 61 years old, with the majority to be female participants (65.6%). Exposure to any IPV was significantly associated with an increased risk of self-harm (fully-adjusted OR, 2.78; 95% CI, 2.69-2.86), with a clear dose-response relationship by number of IPV types (all P for trend <0.001). The association was similar in both females and males. Sexual violence (OR 2.58 [2.27-2.93]), particularly combined with psychological violence (OR 4.28 [3.90-4.69]), showed the highest risk increase of self-harm. Moreover, males exposed to psychological violence, alone or with physical violence or sexual violence, had higher risks than females. The positive association between IPV and self-harm remained robust independent of times and methods used for self-harm, and regardless of intention to suicide.</p>
CONCLUSION: Although more commonly reported in females, IPV victimization was strongly associated with self-harm in both sexes and independent of suicidality, emphasizing the need for identification and tailored prevention strategies for suicidal and non-suicidal self-harm for IPV survivors of both sexes.</p>
15 Keywords
- Adult
- Aged
- Case-Control Studies
- Crime Victims
- Female
- Humans
- Intimate Partner Violence
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Risk Factors
- Self-Injurious Behavior
- Sex Offenses
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- UK Biobank
- United Kingdom
6 Authors
- Xuqi Song
- Ruibin Wang
- Chaonan Shen
- Xiaoting Sun
- Li Lu
- Qing Shen
1 Application
| Application ID | Title |
|---|---|
| 102056 | Disentangle the role of inflammation on the development of major chronic conditions using UK Biobank |
Enabling scientific discoveries that improve human health