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Intergenerational continuities and discontinuities in intimate partner violence: a two-generational prospective study
Carolyn A Smith1, Timothy O Ireland, Aely Park
1School of Social Welfare, University at Albany, 135 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, USA. csmith@albany.edu
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
|August 4, 2011
Summary
Adolescent exposure to severe intimate partner violence (IPV) increases the risk of experiencing IPV in adulthood. This cycle of relationship violence largely persists across genders, with potential women-specific pathways.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Developmental Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Intergenerational continuity of relationship violence is theoretically supported but lacks prospective empirical evidence.
- Few studies have prospectively examined the long-term impact of adolescent exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the link between adolescent exposure to caregiver IPV and adult involvement in IPV.
- To determine if this relationship differs by gender.
- To explore mediation and direct pathways of IPV continuity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized longitudinal data from the Rochester Youth Development Study (RYDS) with 1,000 urban youth.
- Assessed IPV using the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) via interviews and official records.
- Controlled for child physical abuse, race/ethnicity, parent education, family stability, and poverty.
Main Results:
- Adolescent exposure to severe caregiver IPV significantly increased the risk of early adulthood relationship violence.
- Early adulthood violence mediated the link between adolescent IPV exposure and later adult IPV.
- Results were mostly consistent across genders, with a marginally significant direct pathway for women.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent exposure to caregiver IPV has lasting effects on adult relationship violence, largely independent of gender.
- Early relationship violence acts as a mediator in the intergenerational transmission of IPV.
- Specific pathways may exist for women, suggesting unique impacts of early IPV exposure.
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