B – 53 Traumatic Brain Injury and Mental Health Symptoms among Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: Predictors of Subjective Cognitive Concerns

Objective Women exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) often experience traumatic brain injury (TBI) and many mental health problems (e.g., depression, anxiety, PTSD). IPV exposure is also associated with subjective cognitive concerns (SCC), such as slowed thinking and forgetfulness, but limited research has examined whether IPV-related TBI or mental health have a stronger relationship with SCC in this population. The present study aimed to evaluate how cumulative lifetime exposure to IPV-related TBI and current mental health symptoms relate to SCC among female IPV survivors. Method 55 female IPV survivors (Mage=35.56, 69.10% White) were assessed with the Neuro-QoL Cognitive Function questionnaire, Brain Injury Severity Assessment (BISA), PHQ-8, GAD-7, and the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Separate bivariate regression analyses predicted SCC with the BISA and each mental health variable. A series of multiple regressions predicted SCC with the BISA and each mental health measure separately. Results Bivariate regressions indicated that cumulative TBI exposure (p=.015, r2=.11), depression (p<.001, r2=.35), anxiety (p<.001, r2=.30), and PTSD (p<.001, r2=.34) significantly predicted greater SCC. However, TBI exposure was no longer independently significant when adjusting for current mental health. Conclusion Both cumulative IPV-related TBI exposure and mental health are significantly associated with greater SCC among IPV survivors, but SCC had a stronger relationship with current mental health symptom severity. Women survivors of IPV, with and without TBI, present with elevated cognitive concerns and mental health needs. Intervention strategies for women exposed to IPV-related TBI addressing both cognitive and mental health may improve SCC among survivors.