The relation of adult experience of domestic harassment, violence, and sexual abuse to health and sickness absence

Sense of coherence (SOC), self-reported health (SF-36), and sickness absenc e were estimated in three groups of women (n = 1075): those never exposed t o domestic harassment, violence, sexual abuse, or a combination thereof; th ose exposed to domestic harassment; and those exposed to domestic violence, sexual abuse, or both. A lower SOC, a lower self-reported health, and a hi gher sickness absence was found both among women exposed to domestic harass ment and among those exposed to domestic violence, sexual abuse, or both. T he association was strongest for the dimensions of SF-36 reflecting vitalit y and mental health. The difference between women exposed and not exposed t o domestic harassment, violence, sexual abuse, or a combination thereof was largest regarding the length of sick leave in long (>30 days) sick-leave s pells. Increased efforts for prevention of domestic harassment, violence, sexual a buse, or a combination thereof are needed as well as future research.