Table 5 Baseline characteristics of women allocated to intervention and control arms of the feasibility trial

Age median (IQR)

37 (29–48)

46 (46-54)

40.5 (30.5–49)

Age mean (SD, range)

37.9 (10.4; 20–52)

47.2 (10.6;31–59)

40.2 (10.9, 20–59)

Ethnicity :

 - White: British/Eastern European/Other

11/15 (73.3%)

4/5 (80.0%)

15/20 (75.0%)

 - Mixed/Multiple Ethnic Background

1/15 (6.7%)

0/5 (0%)

1/20 (5.0%)

 - Asian/Asian British

0/15 (0%)

1/5 (20.0%)

1/20 (5.0%)

 - Black/African/Caribbean/Black British/Other Black

2/15 (13.3%)

0/5 (0%)

2/20 (10.0%)

 - Other ethnic group

1/15 (6.7%)

0/5 (0%)

1/20 (5.0%)

The highest level of education completed:

 - Primary school

2/15 (13.3%)

0/5 (0%)

2/20 (10.0%)

 - Secondary/High school

3/15 (20.0%)

0/5 (0%)

3/20 (15.0%)

 - College/University

9/15 (60.0%)

5/5 (100.0%)

14/20 (70.0%)

 - Postgraduate degree

1/15 (6.7%)

0/5 (0%)

1/20 (5.0%)

Work status over the last 12 months:

 - Employed/self-employed

3/15 (20.0%)

1/5 (20.0%)

4/20 (20.0%)

 - Looking after home/family

4/15 (26.7%)

2/5 (40.0%)

6/20 (30.0%)

 - Unemployed and looking for wok

1/15 (6.7%)

0/5 (0%)

1/20 (5.0%)

 - Unable to work due to sickness or disability

7/15 (46.7%)

2/5 (40.0%)

9/20 (45.0%)

Marital status:

 - Married

1/15 (6.7%)

1/5 (20.0%)

2/20 (10.0%)

 - Living as a couple

1/15 (6.7%)

0/5 (0%)

1/20 (5.0%)

 - Divorced or separated

6/15 (40.0%)

4/5 (80.0%)

10/20 (50.0%)

 - Single

7/15 (46.7%)

0/5 (0%)

7/20 (35.0%)

Parent

11/15 (73.3%)

4/5 (80.0%)

15/20 (75.0%)

Age of children (0 if not a parent):

 - Age 0–7

4/12 (33.3%)

2/3 (66.7%)

6/15 (40.0%)

 - Age 8–18

6/12 (50.0%)

2/3 (66.7%)

8/15 (53.3%)

 - Over 18 years old

5/12 (41.7%)

3/4 (75.0%)

8/16 (50.0%)

Housing situation:

 - Homeowner

3/15 (20.0%)

1/5 (20.0%)

4/20 (20.0%)

 - Tenant

8/15 (53.3%)

2/5 (40.0%)

10/20 (50.0%)

 - Living with relative/friend

2/15 (13.3%)

0/5 (0%)

2/20 (10.0%)

 - Other

2/15 (13.3%)

2/5 (40.0%)

4/20 (20.0%)

Financial situation:

 - Living comfortably

1/15 (6.7%)

0/5 (0%)

1/20 (5.0%)

 - Doing alright

2/15 (13.3%)

1/5 (20.0%)

3/20 (15.0%)

 - Just about getting by

9/15 (60.0%)

2/5 (40.0%)

11/20 (55.0%)

 - Finding it difficult to make ends meet

2/15 (13.3%)

2/5 (40.0%)

4/20 (20.0%)

 - Finding it very difficult to make ends meet

1/15 (6.7%)

0/5 (0%)

1/20 (5.0%)

Childhood trauma, total score median (IQR)

81 (52–108)^a

51 (48–56)

65 (51–105)

Childhood trauma, total score mean (SD, range)

76.1 (28.2; 38–111)^a

49.0 (23.5; 31–90)

67.1 (29.1; 31–111)

 - Emotional abuse score mean (SD, range)

16.9 (5.2; 9–25)

11.2 (7.4; 5–24)

15.5 (6.2; 5–25)

 - Physical abuse score mean (SD, range)

11.5 (6.6; 5–22)^b

7.4 (5.4; 5–17)

10.4 (6.4; 5–22)

 - Sexual abuse score mean (SD, range)

12.8 (8.0; 5–25)

9.2 (5.5; 5–18)

11.9 (7.5; 5–25)

 - Emotional neglect score mean (SD, range)

16.8 (6.4; 7–25)^c

13.6 (6.9; 7–24)

15.8 (6.5; 7–25)

 - Physical neglect score mean (SD, range)

11.8 (4.0; 5–18)^d

7.6 (3.6; 6 - 14)

10.7 (4.2; 5–18)

Childhood trauma (dichotomised scale scores)

 - Emotional abuse

11/15 (73.3%)

1/5 (20.0%)

12/20 (60.0%)

 - Physical abuse

7/14 (50.0%)

1/5 (20.0%)

8/19 (42.1%)

Sexual abuse

9/15 (60.0%)

2/5 (40.0%)

11/20 (55.0%)

 - Emotional neglect

6/13 (46.2%)

2/5 (40.0%)

8/18 (44.4%)

 - Physical neglect

10/14 (71.4%)

1/5 (20.0%)

11/19 (57.9%)

 - Minimisation/denial

1/14 (7.1%)

1/5 (20.0%)

2/19 (10.5%)

Currently afraid of her partner

0/15 (0%)

0/5 (0%)

0/20 (0%)

Ever been afraid of her partner

11/15 (73.3%)

5 /5(100%)

16/20 (80.0%)

Intimate partner violence in past 12 months, total score median (IQR)^b

12 (2-21)^e

41 (25–44)

19 (5-25)

Intimate partner violence in past 12 months, total score mean (SD, range)

13.0 (12.4; 0–41)^e

32.9 (15.3; 9.6–45)

18.5 (15.7; 0-45)

Received support for domestic violence and abuse

 - Advocacy individual

7/11 (63.6%)

4/4 (100.0%)

11/15 (73.3%)

 - Freedom programme group

9/12 (75.0%)

3/4 (75.0%)

12/16 (75.0%)

 - Recovery Toolkit group programme

1/11 (9.1%)

0/4 (0%)

1/15 (6.7%)

 - Peer support group

3/11 (27.3%)

0/4 (0%)

3/15 (20.0%)

 - Other

1/11 (9.1%)

0/4 (0%)

1/15 (6.7%)

Ever experienced mental health problems

15/15 (100.0%)

5/5 (100.0%)

20/20 (100.0%)

Ever sought professional help for mental health problems

14/15 (93.3%)

5/5 (100.0%)

19/20 (95.0%)

Ever prescribed treatment for mental health problems (0 if never sought professional help)

 - Self-help materials

5/15 (33.3%)

2/5 (40.0%)

7/20 (35.0%)

 - Talking therapy

14/15 (93.3%)

3/5 (60.0%)

17/20 (85.0%)

 - Antidepressants

12/15 (80.0%)

4/5 (80.0%)

16/20 (80.0%)

 - Other

4/13 (30.8%)

1/5 (20.0%)

5/18 (27.8%)