Correlates of reproductive coercion among college women in abusive relationships: baseline data from the college safety study

• Published in: Journal of American college health Vol. 70; no. 4; pp. 1204 - 1211
• Main Authors: Grace, Karen Trister, Perrin, Nancy A., Clough, Amber, Miller, Elizabeth, Glass, Nancy E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 01.05.2022; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Access to Health Care; At Risk Persons; Birth control; Brain; Clinical trials; Coercion; College Students; Computer Use; Contraception; Dating; Depression; Depression (Psychology); Domestic violence; Ethnicity; Female; Females; Head Injuries; Health care industry; Humans; Injuries; Interpersonal Relationship; Intimate partner violence; Intimate Partner Violence - psychology; Mental depression; Mental Health; Mental health services; Predictor Variables; Pregnancy; Racial Differences; reproductive coercion; Safety; School Safety; Sexual Partners - psychology; sexual violence; Students - psychology; Substance Abuse; Technology; Trauma; Traumatic brain injury; Universities; Violence; Women; Working women; intimate partner violence; traumatic brain injury; Depression; reproductive coercion; sexual violence
• ISSN: 0744-8481; 1940-3208
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2020.1790570

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine correlates of reproductive coercion (RC) among a sample of college women in abusive relationships. Participants: 354 college students reporting a recent history of intimate partner violence (IPV). Methods: This study examines baseline data from a randomized controlled trial testing effectiveness of an interactive safety decision aid (myPlan). Results: Almost a quarter (24.3%) of the sample reported RC. Associated factors included races other than White (p = 0.019), relationship instability (p = 0.022), missing class due to relationship problems (p = 0.001), IPV severity (p < 0.001), technology abuse (p < 0.001), traumatic brain injury-associated events (p < 0.001), and depression (p = 0.024). Conclusions: RC was a significant predictor of depression, with implications for providers working with abused college women regarding the need for mental health services concurrent with IPV/RC services. A larger proportion of women who experienced RC sought help from a healthcare provider for contraception, which suggests intervention opportunities for college health providers.