Emotional abuse linked to rent problems, frequent moves and homelessness

A study of more than 163,000 adult patients found emotional abuse was associated with all three forms of housing instability examined.

Editorial illustration — not from the study.

Researchers analyzed electronic health records from 163,284 adult patients to examine links between intimate partner violence and three forms of housing instability: difficulty paying rent or mortgage, frequent moves and homelessness. The analysis considered physical, sexual and emotional abuse, as well as fear of an intimate partner, while accounting for key covariates.

Emotional abuse was associated with all three housing problems. All four measures of intimate partner violence were associated with higher odds of homelessness, while gender changed the relationship between intimate partner violence and difficulty paying rent or mortgage.

Housing problems tied to abuse

Emotional abuse significantly increased the odds of all three housing-instability measures: difficulty paying rent or mortgage, frequent moves and homelessness. Physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and fear of an intimate partner each elevated the risk of homelessness. Gender moderated the relationship between intimate partner violence and difficulty paying rent or mortgage, meaning that this association differed by gender. The study analyzed electronic health records from 163,284 adult patients using logistic regression models and controlled for key covariates.

Why emotional abuse matters

The findings suggest that housing concerns may accompany emotional abuse even when someone does not report other forms of intimate partner violence. The researchers say practitioners should give increased attention to emotional abuse when screening for abuse and housing needs, while considering both individual and environmental factors.

Evidence and open questions

This was an analysis of electronic health records using statistical models, so it identified associations rather than proving that intimate partner violence caused housing instability. The abstract does not report the size or makeup of the groups by gender or the strength of the associations. Because the timing of abuse and housing instability was not established, the researchers call for longitudinal studies to clarify which comes first and how the relationship unfolds.

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