Effects of Child Abuse, Adolescent Violence, Peer Approval, and Pro-Violence Attitudes on Intimate Partner Violence in Adulthood

Date

2016

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health

Abstract

Background: Children’s exposure to violence increases their risk for later victimization and perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV). However, the relative influence of child abuse, adolescent violence, peer approval of violence, and pro-violence attitudes on later intimate partner violence is not well established. Aims: Analyses focus on the prediction of adult IPV from variables measured in childhood and adolescence to establish the unique influence of earlier victimization and perpetration of violence, as well as other variables grounded in theory and empirical findings. Methods: Data are from a longitudinal study that began in the 1970s with a sample of 457 preschool-aged children who were reassessed as adults. Outcomes of adult IPV victimization and perpetration types were regressed on predictors of parent-reported child abuse, officially recorded child maltreatment, adolescent victimization, violence perpetration, pro-violence attitudes, and peer approval of violence during adolescence, controlling for childhood SES, age in adolescence, and gender. Results: Dating violence victimization and peer approval of dating violence in adolescence emerged as the unique predictors of IPV victimization and perpetration in adulthood. Official child maltreatment predicted IPV perpetration. Conclusions: Results underscore the importance of prevention programs and strategies to disrupt the cycle of violence at its early stages, as well as interventions during adolescence targeting peer influences. (Author Abstract)

Description

Keywords

child abuse, long term effects, spouse abuse, risk factors, research

Citation

Herrenkohl, Todd I., & Jung, Hyunzee. (2016), Effects of Child Abuse, Adolescent Violence, Peer Approval, and Pro-Violence Attitudes on Intimate Partner Violence in Adulthood. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 26(4), 304–314.

DOI