Relationship Churning and Desistance From Intimate Abuse
Sarah Halpern-Meekin1, Kristin Turney2
1University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
|October 20, 2018
Summary
Understanding intimate abuse desistance is key. Relationship churning dynamics, particularly breaking up and forming new partnerships, show promise for facilitating abuse cessation.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Criminology
- Family Studies
Background:
- Intimate partner abuse is a significant social issue requiring effective intervention strategies.
- Understanding relationship dynamics is crucial for facilitating abuse desistance.
- Churning relationships (repeated separation and reunion) present unique patterns in intimate abuse.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how relationship transitions, specifically churning and repartnering, influence intimate abuse desistance.
- To compare abuse desistance patterns among individuals in churning relationships versus those who repartner or remain stably together.
- To identify relationship dynamics that predict the cessation of intimate abuse.
Main Methods:
- Utilized longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a survey of urban parents.
- Compared intimate abuse desistance rates across three groups: churners (breakup only), repartnered (breakup and new partnership), and stably together.
- Analyzed the association between relationship transitions (breakup vs. new partnership) and abuse desistance, controlling for sociodemographic factors.
Main Results:
- Individuals with a history of intimate abuse were overrepresented in both churning and repartnering groups.
- The repartnered group exhibited the highest likelihood of intimate abuse desistance, even after controlling for sociodemographic variables.
- Breaking up and forming a new relationship appeared more conducive to abuse desistance than reconciling within a churning dynamic.
Conclusions:
- Relationship transitions, particularly forming new partnerships after a breakup, are associated with higher rates of intimate abuse desistance.
- The dynamics of repartnering may foster healthier relationship patterns, contributing to the cessation of abuse.
- Interventions aimed at facilitating abuse desistance should consider the impact of relationship transitions and partner dynamics.
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