The pandemic within a pandemic: mental health and wellbeing of racially Minoritised women experiencing domestic abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK

Abstract Background The prevalence of domestic abuse is greater in times of humanitarian crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic has been no different. Considerable evidence indicates that domestic abuse disproportionately impacts the mental health and wellbeing of racially Minoritised women. The present...

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Main Authors: Ankita Mishra, Jilly Gibson-Miller, Chantelle Wood
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Women's Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03502-4
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author Ankita Mishra
Jilly Gibson-Miller
Chantelle Wood
author_facet Ankita Mishra
Jilly Gibson-Miller
Chantelle Wood
author_sort Ankita Mishra
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The prevalence of domestic abuse is greater in times of humanitarian crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic has been no different. Considerable evidence indicates that domestic abuse disproportionately impacts the mental health and wellbeing of racially Minoritised women. The present study aimed to explore racially Minoritised women’s experiences of domestic abuse and mental health in the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Method An online cross-sectional survey was used with racially Minoritised women (n = 1202) in the UK during the third national lockdown. Results Results demonstrate complex interplay of psychosocial factors, such as the roles of autonomy, resilience, self-silencing, family functioning, and social support as predictors of mental health and wellbeing during the ‘shadow pandemic’. Conclusion Implications such as incorporating culturally competent mental health support, exploring the complex and multiple underpinnings of mental health in racially Minoritised victim-survivors of domestic abuse for future pandemic preparedness and support provision are discussed.
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spelling doaj-art-d6b708284c824b8dbe1bf1fbf6ffe11d2025-08-20T02:39:35ZengBMCBMC Women's Health1472-68742024-12-0124111410.1186/s12905-024-03502-4The pandemic within a pandemic: mental health and wellbeing of racially Minoritised women experiencing domestic abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UKAnkita Mishra0Jilly Gibson-Miller1Chantelle Wood2Department of Psychology, University of SheffieldSchool of Education, University of SheffieldDepartment of Psychology, University of SheffieldAbstract Background The prevalence of domestic abuse is greater in times of humanitarian crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic has been no different. Considerable evidence indicates that domestic abuse disproportionately impacts the mental health and wellbeing of racially Minoritised women. The present study aimed to explore racially Minoritised women’s experiences of domestic abuse and mental health in the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Method An online cross-sectional survey was used with racially Minoritised women (n = 1202) in the UK during the third national lockdown. Results Results demonstrate complex interplay of psychosocial factors, such as the roles of autonomy, resilience, self-silencing, family functioning, and social support as predictors of mental health and wellbeing during the ‘shadow pandemic’. Conclusion Implications such as incorporating culturally competent mental health support, exploring the complex and multiple underpinnings of mental health in racially Minoritised victim-survivors of domestic abuse for future pandemic preparedness and support provision are discussed.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03502-4Domestic abuseRacially Minoritised womenMental healthWellbeingCOVID-19 pandemicLockdown
spellingShingle Ankita Mishra
Jilly Gibson-Miller
Chantelle Wood
The pandemic within a pandemic: mental health and wellbeing of racially Minoritised women experiencing domestic abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK
BMC Women's Health
Domestic abuse
Racially Minoritised women
Mental health
Wellbeing
COVID-19 pandemic
Lockdown
title The pandemic within a pandemic: mental health and wellbeing of racially Minoritised women experiencing domestic abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK
title_full The pandemic within a pandemic: mental health and wellbeing of racially Minoritised women experiencing domestic abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK
title_fullStr The pandemic within a pandemic: mental health and wellbeing of racially Minoritised women experiencing domestic abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK
title_full_unstemmed The pandemic within a pandemic: mental health and wellbeing of racially Minoritised women experiencing domestic abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK
title_short The pandemic within a pandemic: mental health and wellbeing of racially Minoritised women experiencing domestic abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK
title_sort pandemic within a pandemic mental health and wellbeing of racially minoritised women experiencing domestic abuse during the covid 19 pandemic in the uk
topic Domestic abuse
Racially Minoritised women
Mental health
Wellbeing
COVID-19 pandemic
Lockdown
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03502-4
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