A Comparative Study of Anxiety, Stress, and Depression in Physically Abused and non-Abused Iranian Wives

Objectives: The current study tested differences in depression, anxiety, and stress among Iranian wives with and without a history of spousal abuse. Methods: The physically abused wives (N = 40) were among those who had been referred to a local forensic medical center. The control group (N = 40) comprised married women living in the same area of the city as the experimental group. The Persian form of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) was administered for all subjects. Results: The results showed that for both groups, number of children and years of education predicted level of stress, anxiety, and depression. However, the abused wives scored higher on depression, anxiety, and stress than the non-abused wives. Conclusion: Despite the traditional sex roles in Iran, the role of moderating factors, and its differences with Western societies, it seems that, wife abuse leads to similar poor mental health consequences.