Mild Brain Injuries Incurred During Intimate Partner Violence Are Related to Objective and Self-Reported Balance Measures

Abstract

Individuals who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) sometimes self-report balance and vestibular problems; however, objectively measured balance has rarely been investigated in this population. Given the risk for persistent physical, neurocognitive, and psychological effects of brain injury (BI) in women who experience IPV, the present study evaluated the association between mild IPV-BIs, objective balance, and self-reported vestibular symptoms in women with at least one instance of physical IPV (n = 144). IPV-BIs and accident-related BIs were assessed using the Ohio State University traumatic BI (TBI) identification method and the Brain Injury Severity Assessment Interview. Psychological symptoms were measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5. Vestibular symptoms were measured with the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI). Static balance and postural sway were measured with the Sway Medical System Balance Test, for which lower scores reflect worse balance. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that having a greater number of mild IPV-related BIs was related to (1) lower objectively measured balance scores (adjusting for age, accident-related BIs, and moderate-severe IPV-BIs) and (2) worse self-reported vestibular symptoms on the NSI (adjusting for age, accident-BIs, moderate-severe IPV-BIs, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and traumatic stress). Worse self-reported vestibular symptoms were also related to lower balance scores. Results from the present study add to the literature describing the complex health problems experienced by women who experience IPV and IPV-related brain injuries. Future research could include in-person evaluations designed to identify treatable vestibular symptoms and problems.