Introduction
Methods
Search strategy
Eligibility criteria
Data extraction and analysis
Results
Author (Publication year) | Study location | Sample | Nature of study | Measurement of economic abuse | Economic abuse prevalence rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adams & Beeble (2019) [20] | United States | Women receiving services from DV and SA service agencies (n = 94) | Survey data collected as part of a larger, longitudinal evaluation of an advocacy intervention | SEA (28 items) | Not reported |
Adams et al. (2008) [2] | United States | Women receiving services from DV service agencies (n = 103) | Cross-sectional survey focused on validating a measurement tool for EA | SEA (28 items) | 99% (since relationship began) |
Adams et al. (2015) [3] | United States | Women receiving services from DV and SA service agencies (n = 93) | Survey data collected as part of a larger, longitudinal evaluation of an advocacy intervention | SEA (28 items) | All reported some form of EA at baseline (since relationship began) |
Adams et al. (2020) [21] | United States | Women receiving services from DV service agencies (n = 248) | Cross-sectional survey focused on validating a measurement tool for EA | SEA2 (14 items) | 96% (at least one EA tactic since relationship began) |
Adams et al. (2020) [22] | United States | Women who called the National DV Hotline (n = 1823) | Cross-sectional convenience sample using brief surveys | Three (3) items measuring coerced debt | 52% (lifetime coerced debt) |
Antai et al. (2014) [23] | Philippines | Women between the ages of 15–49 living in Philippines (n = 9316) | Cross-sectional representative sample using surveys | Four (4) items measuring EA | Not reported |
Bulut et al. (2017) [24] | Turkey | Postpartum women receiving care in a family practice clinic (n = 128) | Cross-sectional convenience sample using surveys | Not indicated | 3% (timeframe unclear) |
Cardenas et al. (2021) [25] | United States | Latina women receiving services from DV agencies (n = 200) | Survey data collected as part of a larger, longitudinal evaluation of a financial empowerment program | SEA-12 (12 items) | Not reported |
Davila et al. (2021) [26] | United States | Latina women receiving services from DV agencies (n = 245) | Cross-sectional study using data collected from a longitudinal evaluation of a financial empowerment program | SEA-12 (12 items) | Not reported |
Gibbs et al. (2018) [27] | South Africa | Women aged 18–30 living in informal settlements (n = 680) | Cross-sectional study using data collected from a longitudinal evaluation of a DV intervention | Four (4) items measuring EA | 52% (at least one EA tactic in past 12 months) |
Gottlieb & Mahabir (2021) [28] | United States | Mothers interviewed in hospitals after giving birth (n = 3515) | Secondary analysis of longitudinal data from the FFCWB Study | Two (2) items measuring financial control and work/school sabotage | One-third of sample (since the birth of their child) |
Gul et al. (2020) [29] | Turkey | Mothers of children referred for pediatric health services (n = 336) | Cross-sectional convenience sample using surveys | One (1) item measuring EA | 12.5% (since relationship began) |
Gurkan et al. (2020) [30] | Turkey | Pregnant women presenting to the antenatal polyclinic (n = 370) | Cross-sectional convenience sample using surveys | One (1) item from DV Against Women Screening Form | 25.9% (during pregnancy) |
Haj-Yahia (2000) [31] | Palestine | Married Palestinian women (n = 1334) | Cross-sectional systematic random sample using surveys | Two (2) items measuring financial control | 44% (past 12 months) |
Hamdan-Mansour et al. (2011) [32] | Jordan | Ever married women over the age of 18 living in villages in southern Jordan (n = 807) | Cross-sectional study using stratified random sampling to survey participants | Marital Abuse Scale (5 items) | Not reported |
Huang et al. (2013) [33] | United States | Mothers interviewed in hospitals following giving birth (n = 2107) | Secondary analysis of longitudinal data collected from the FFCWB Study | Two (2) items measuring financial control and work/school sabotage | 11.8% at baseline; 13.5% at Year 3; 15.1% at Year 5 (past 12 months) |
Huang et al. (2015) [34] | United States | Mothers interviewed in hospitals following giving birth (n = 2410) | Secondary analysis of longitudinal data collected from the FFCWB Study | Two (2) items measuring financial control and work/school sabotage | 28% (when their child was one or three years old) |
Jewkes et al. (2003) [35] | South Africa | Women between the ages of 18–49 living in South Africa (n = 1164) | Cross-sectional representative sample using surveys | Items measuring financial control (number of items unclear) | Not reported |
Kanougiya et al. (2021) [36] | India | Ever-married women between ages 18–49 living in two informal settlements (n = 4906) | Cross-sectional systematic random sample | 15 items measuring EA | 23% (at least one form over their lifetime) |
Kapiga et al. (2017) [37] | Tanzania | Ever partnered women participating in microfinance loan groups (n = 1021) | Cross-sectional baseline survey from a cluster RCT | WHO Violence Against Women Instrument (3 items) | 34% (past 12 months) |
Johnson (2021) [38] | United States | Pregnant women in a relationship (n = 183) | Cross-sectional convenience sample using surveys recruited via research panel service | SEA2 (14 items) | Not reported |
Nicholson et al. (2018) [39] | United States | Mothers interviewed in hospitals birth (n = 2389) | Secondary analysis of longitudinal data collected from the FFCWB Study | Two (2) items measuring financial control and work/school sabotage | 28% (lifetime at Year 1 and Year 3) |
Postmus et al. (2012) [40] | United States | Mothers interviewed in hospitals following giving birth (n = 2305) | Secondary analysis of longitudinal data collected from the FFCWB Study | Two (2) items measuring financial control and work/school sabotage | Not reported |
Postmus et al. (2012) [4] | United States | Women receiving services from DV programs (n = 120) | Cross-sectional study using data collected from a longitudinal evaluation of a financial empowerment program | SEA (28 items) | 94.2% (in current relationship or last 12 months of most recent relationship) |
Postmus et al. (2021) [41] | Cambodia, China, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka | Women between the ages of 18–49 (n = 3105) | Cross-sectional study using multi-stage cluster sampling to survey participants | Four (4) items measuring EA | 35.6% (lifetime) |
Sauber et al. (2020) [42] | United States | Female DV survivors recruited through agencies providing services to survivors, as well as online (n = 147) | Cross-sectional convenience sample using surveys | SEA-12 (12 items) | 95% (at least one experience in the past 6 months) |
Stockl & Penhale (2015) [43] | Germany | Women between the ages of 16–86 who received a letter inviting them to participate (n = 10,264) | Secondary analysis of cross-sectional nationally representative data collected as part of the Health, Well-Being and Personal Safety of Women in Germany study | Items measuring financial control (number of items unclear) | 12% of participants 16–49; 14% 50–65; 13% 66–86 (occurred with current partner) |
Stylianou (2018) [44] | United States | Women receiving services from DV agencies (n = 457) | Cross-sectional study using data collected from a longitudinal evaluation of a financial empowerment program | SEA-12 (12 items) | 93% (past 12 months) |
Tenkorang & Owusu (2019) [45] | Ghana | Ever-married women aged 18 and older living within selected communities (n = 2289) | Cross-sectional study using multi-stage simple random sampling to survey participants | Seven (7) items measuring employment sabotage, economic exploitation, and economic depravation | 8.5% employment sabotage; 24% economic exploitation; 42% economic deprivation (timeframe unclear) |
Usta et al. (2007) [46] | Lebanon | Women seeking services in selected health clinics (n = 1415) | Cross-sectional convenience sample using surveys | One (1) item measuring EA | 12% (lifetime) |
Voth Schrag (2015) [47] | United States | Mothers interviewed in hospitals following giving birth (n = 2775) | Secondary analysis of longitudinal data collected from the FFCWB Study | Two (2) items measuring financial control and work/school sabotage | 14% (timeframe unclear) |
Voth Schrag et al. (2019) [48] | United States | Women enrolled in community college (n = 435) | Cross-sectional study using simple random sample to survey participants | SEA-12 (12 items) | Not reported |
Voth Schrag et al. (2020) [49] | United States | Women enrolled in community college (n = 435) | Cross-sectional study using simple random sample to survey participants | SEA-12 (12 items) | 43.8% (at least one form of EA in past 12 months) |
Yau et al. (2020) [50] | Hong Kong | Adults between the ages of 35–60 (n = 504) | Cross-sectional stratified systematic sample using surveys | Chinese SEA-12 (C-SEA-12; 12 items) | 36.5% (past 12 months) |
Yunus et al. (2017) [51] | Malaysia | Adults aged 60 or older living within selected districts (n = 1927) | Longitudinal study using multi-stage cluster sampling strategy and administrative records | Adapted version of the Conflict Tactics Scale for Elder Abuse | 8.1% (experienced since turning age 60) |
Study characteristics
Sample
Defining and measuring economic abuse
Outcomes and covariates
Outcomes
Author (Publication year) | Type of analysis | Outcomes of interest | Measurement of outcome | Key finding(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Adams & Beeble (2019) [20] | Multivariate | Quality of life | 9-item Quality of Life Scale adapted for use with survivors [56] | Within-woman change in EA was negatively associated with change in quality of life over time |
Adams et al. (2008) [2] | Multivariate | Economic hardship | 13-item Economic Hardship Index developed for study | EA was positively associated with economic hardship |
Adams et al. (2015) [3] | Multivariate | Perceived financial resources | Adequacy of Financial Support Scale [57] | EA was negatively associated with baseline financial resources; Within-woman change in EA over time was negatively associated with change in financial resources |
Adams et al. (2020) [21] | Multivariate | Material dependency | One (1) item asking to what extent survivor relies on the financial resources of their partner | Economic restriction was positively associated with material dependence; EA was positively associated with outstanding debt |
Outstanding debt | 6-item index asking participants about what they currently owed money on (e.g., student loan) | |||
Adams et al. (2020) [22] | Multivariate | Credit damage | One (1) item asking if credit report or credit score has been hurt by the actions of their partner | Coerced debt significantly predicted credit damage and financial dependence |
Financial dependence | One (1) item asking if individual stayed in relationship longer than they wanted to due to financial concerns | |||
Antai et al. (2014) [23] | Multivariate | Psychological distress | One (1) item asking whether the individual experienced mental health symptoms (e.g., depression) as a result of husband’s acts | Two of four EA items associated with greater odds of suicide attempt; Two of the EA items were associated with greater odds of psychological distress; One EA item associated with lower odds of psychological distress |
Suicide attempt | One (1) item asking if individual ever attempted suicide as a result of husband’s acts | |||
Bulut et al. (2017) [24] | Bivariate | Postpartum depression | 10-item Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale [58] | No significant differences in postpartum depression among women exposed to EA compared to those who were not |
Cardenas et al. (2021) [25] | Multivariate | Quality of life | 9-item Quality of Life Scale adapted for use with survivors [56] | Economic control was significantly and negatively associated with quality of life; however, relationship was no longer significant after controlling for economic empowerment indicators |
Davila et al. (2021) [26] | Multivariate | Depression | 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depressed Mood Scale (CES-D) [59] | EA did not lead to a significant increase in R2 for depression, anxiety, and PTSD |
Anxiety | 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) [60] | |||
PTSD | 9-items adapted from National Comorbidity Survey [61] | |||
Gibbs et al. (2018) [27] | Bivariate | Depression | 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depressed Mood Scale (CES-D) [59] | Experiencing any EA was significantly associated with increased depression scores; experienced two or more forms of EA was significantly associated with suicidal ideation |
Suicidal ideation | One (1) item asking if individual has thought about ending their life in the past 4 weeks | |||
Gottlieb & Mahabir (2021) [28] | Multivariate | Mother’s criminal justice involvement | One (1) item that asks individual if they had been charged with a crime or booked by police for anything other than a minor traffic violation in the past 4 years | Odds of experiencing criminal justice involvement were higher for mothers experiencing EA |
Gul et al. (2020) [29] | Bivariate | Contentment with life | 5-item Contentment with Life Scale [62] | EA was not significantly associated with contentment with life nor physical or emotional abuse toward child |
Physical or emotional abuse toward child | Two (2) items asking individuals if they had applied physical violence or emotional violence to their child when they are angry with their husbands due to their behaviors | |||
Gurkan et al. (2020) [30] | Bivariate | Pregnancy symptoms | 41-item Pregnancy Symptoms Inventory (PSI) [63] | Fatigue and mental health symptom scores were higher for women experiencing EA |
Haj-Yahia (2000) [31] | Multivariate | Self-esteem | Adapted version of Index of Self Esteem (ISE) [64] | The more EA experienced the lower their self-esteem and higher their anxiety and depression |
Anxiety | Adapted version of Costello-Comrey Depression and Anxiety Scale [65] | |||
Depression | ||||
Hamdan-Mansour et al. (2011) [32] | Bivariate | Psychological wellbeing | 18-item Psychological Well-Being Scale Short Form [66] | Two of six domains of psychological wellbeing (self-acceptance and environmental mastery) were significantly negatively associated with EA |
Huang et al. (2013) [33] | Multivariate | Union formation | Multiple items (e.g., marital status, cohabitation status) were used to create four mutually exclusive relationship categories | EA at Year 1 was associated with lower odds of being married or cohabiting at Year 5 |
Huang et al. (2015) [34] | Multivariate | Early delinquency | Sum of 17 delinquent acts (e.g., run away from home) from the “Things that you have done” scale modeled after the National Youth Survey [67] | Experiencing EA was positively associated with child delinquency at 9 years old, as well as negatively associated with parental involvement |
Parental involvement | Average of individual’s engagement in eight parenting activities (e.g., reading stories) | |||
Child neglect | 10-item Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale [68] | |||
Physical punishment | ||||
Jewkes et al. (2003) [35] | Multivariate | Discussion of HIV in relationship | Questions on whether the individuals had ever discussed HIV with their partner and whether they had suggested condom use to their partners | Suggesting condom use in the past year was positively associated with financial abuse |
Condom use | ||||
Kanougiya et al. (2021) [36] | Multivariate | Depression | Patient Health Questtionaire-9 (PHQ-9) [69] | Women who experienced EA had higher odds of experiencing depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation |
Anxiety | Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) [60] | |||
Suicidal ideation | Two (2) items asking whether the individual had considered attempting suicide or ever attempted suicide in the past 12 months | |||
Kapiga et al. (2017) [37] | Multivariate | Psychological distress symptoms | Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20) [70] | Women experience EA were significantly more likely to report symptoms of psychological distress |
Johnson (2021) [38] | Multivariate | Material hardship | 11-item index asking individuals about their ability to meet basic financial needs in the past 12 months (e.g., go hungry) | EA was positively associated with material hardship |
Nicholson et al. (2018) [39] | Multivariate | Peer bullying | Four (4) items from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics Child Development Supplement III | Presence of EA at Year1 and Year 3 was associated with higher levels of peer bullying at Year 9 |
Postmus et al. (2012) [40] | Multivariate | Parenting engagement | Average of individual’s engagement in eight parenting activities (e.g., reading stories) | Mothers at Year 1 who experienced EA had higher odds of experiencing depression and using spanking as a form of punishment at Year 5 |
Use of spanking | Frequency with which mother spanked child when they misbehaved or acted up in the past 1 month | |||
Maternal depression | Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short Form (CIDI-SF) [71] | |||
Postmus et al. (2012b) [4] | Multivariate | Economic self-sufficiency | 15-item Economic Self-Sufficiency Scale [72] | Experiencing any form of EA compared to no EA was associated with a decrease in economic self-sufficiency |
Postmus et al. (2021) [41] | Multivariate | Food insecurity | One (1) item that asked participants how often people in their home go without food due to lack of money | Experiencing EA was associated with a greater likelihood of reporting food insecurity and an increase in depressive symptoms |
Depression | 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depressed Mood Scale (CES-D) [59] | |||
Sauber et al. (2020) [42] | Multivariate | PTSD | 17-item civilian version of the PTSD Checklist (PLC-C) [73] | Economic control was positively associated with PTSD and negatively associated with economic self-sufficiency; Employment sabotage was positively associated with depressive symptoms |
Depression | 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depressed Mood Scale (CES-D) [59] | |||
Economic self-sufficiency | 15-item Economic Self-Sufficiency Scale [72] | |||
Stockl & Penhale (2015) [43] | Multivariate | Physical health | 50-items that asked women about physical and psychological health, history of injuries, and weight problems | EA was associated with greater odds of experiencing gastrointestinal syndromes, psychosomatic symptoms, pelvic problems, allergies, and psychological problems in the past year, as well as problems to keep weight |
Mental health | ||||
Stylianou (2018) [44] | Multivariate | Depression | 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depressed Mood Scale (CES-D) [59] | EA was positively associated with depression |
Tenkorang & Owusu (2019) [45] | Multivariate | Cardiovascular health | One (1) item asking if participants had ever been told by a doctor that they had diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or stroke | Employment sabotage was positively associated with psychosocial health issues; Economic exploitation was positively associated with worse psychosocial health and greater odds of cardiovascular diseases; Economic deprivation was positively associated with worse psychosocial health and greater odds of cardiovascular diseases |
Overall health | One (1) item that asked participants to describe their health in general | |||
Psychosocial health | 11-items that asked participants if they had experienced a range of mental health symptoms (e.g., felt nervous) | |||
Usta et al. (2007) [46] | Bivariate | Common health complaints in general practice | Participants were asked to indicate how frequently they experienced complaints common in general practice (e.g., headache) | EA was positively correlated with frequency of heart palpitations and physical complaints |
Voth Schrag (2015) [47] | Multivariate | Material hardship | 11-item index asking individuals about their ability to meet basic financial needs in the past 12 months (e.g., go hungry) | Reporting EA was associated with a greater likelihood of depression and increased odds of experiencing material hardship |
Depression | Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short Form (CIDI-SF) [71] | |||
Voth Schrag et al. (2019) [48] | Multivariate | PTSD | 20-item PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) [74] | EA was associated with increased depression, PTSD, and economic hardship |
Depression | 7-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Short Form (CES-D-SF) [75] | |||
Economic hardship | 13-item Economic Hardship Index [2] | |||
Voth Schrag et al. (2020) [49] | Multivariate | Economic hardship | 13-item Economic Hardship Index [2] | Higher levels of EA were associated with higher levels of economic hardship |
Yau et al. (2020) [50] | Multivariate | Anxiety | 14-item Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) [76] | EA was associated with greater odds of anxiety, depression, and psychosomatic symptoms |
Depression | ||||
Psychosomatic symptoms | 15-item Patient Health Questionnaire-15 [77] | |||
Yunus et al. (2017) [51] | Bivariate | Mortality | Mortality was tracked via phone calls with participants or their families followed by cross checking | Mortality was highest among individuals who experienced EA |