AUTHOR=Luo Zhenni , Guan Yan , Li Yun , Xu Weihong , Li Lu , Liu Siyuan , Zhou Haozheng , Yin Xuanhao , Wu Yibo , Chen Jiangyun 

TITLE=The relationship of intimate partner violence on depression: the mediating role of perceived social support and the moderating role of the Big Five personality

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1402378

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2024.1402378

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=This study aimed to explore the influence of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) on depression, the mediating role of social support, and the moderating role of the Big Five personality traits in the relationship between social support and depression. Participants were recruited from Mainland China, using a stratified random sampling and quota sampling method. From June to August 2022, a diverse group of 21,916 participants (ranging from 12-100 years old) completed the Intimate Partner Violence Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, Perceived Social Support Scale, and Big Five Inventory-Short Version. IPV was significantly positively correlated with depression and significantly negatively correlated with perceived social support. Perceived social support plays a mediating role in the link between IPV and depression. The findings indicated that even with moderators of agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness, social support could still mediate the relationship between IPV and depression. High levels of agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness may strengthen the negative association between social support and depression. IPV is positively associated with depression and negatively associated with the mediating effect of social support. The indirect effects of IPV on depression were moderated by agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness. Therefore, healthcare workers should assess social support and provide adequate care or recommendations for increasing social support when patients with IPV report depressive symptoms. Patients can be coached by professionals to improve their resiliency by developing or nurturing more optimistic personality traits.