Economic Abuse and Later Material Hardship

This study aimed to assess the mediating impact of depression on the association between three forms of intimate partner violence (economic abuse, physical/sexual abuse, and emotional abuse) and later experiences of material hardship. Partial mediation effects were found for economic and physical/sexual abuse, while no impact of emotional abuse on experiences of material hardship was observed. Experiencing economic (odds ratio [OR] = 1.39) or physical/sexual abuse (OR = 1.55) both had strong direct effects on later experiences of material hardship. Implications for social work practice include the need to address both economic abuse and long-term economic stability with survivors.