Abstract: Although associations among intimate partner violence, stress, social support,
self-esteem, and depressive symptoms are well documented, the mechanism of these
links has not been fully explored. This study is part of a larger research project that
investigated intimate partner violence, health consequences, and coping patterns among
532 Thai women with gynecological problems. The aim of this study was to examine
the potential mediators (e.g., stress, social support, and self-esteem) of the relationship
between intimate partner violence and depressive symptoms by using a structural
equation modeling approach. Data were collected from self-reported questionnaires,
including the: Demographic Characteristics Questionnaire, Abuse Assessment Screen,
Index of Spouse Abuse, Stress Test, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support,
Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.
Results revealed that 21.1% of participants experienced intimate partner violence
within the previous year and 17.1% had depressive symptoms. Intimate partner
violence was significantly positively correlated with stress and depressive symptoms
but negatively correlated with social support and self-esteem. Intimate partner violence
exhibited indirect effect on depressive symptoms through stress, social support, and
self-esteem. The model fitted the empirical data and accounted for 92% of the variance
of depressive symptoms. Therefore, intervention programs that include the role of these
factors may be effective in preventing depressive symptoms among abused Thai women
with gynecological problems.