Intimate Partner Violence Risk Factors: A Vulnerability-Adaptation Stress Model Approach

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) disproportionately affects women, necessitating research into its complex risk factors.
• The vulnerability-adaptation stress model provides a framework for understanding how individual vulnerabilities and stressors contribute to IPV risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), self-esteem, and hope as vulnerability indicators for IPV.
• To investigate relationship status, relationship length, affect, and socioeconomic status (SES) as stressors contributing to IPV risk.
• To identify key predictors of IPV risk in women using a comprehensive statistical approach.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional online survey was administered to 491 women.
• Validated scales measured positive and negative affect, self-esteem, hope, ACEs, and IPV.
• Factor analysis of ACEs and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were employed to determine risk factors.

Main Results:

• Greater exposure to physical or psychological child abuse was initially associated with increased IPV risk.
• Lower self-esteem, negative affect, and relationship length were significant predictors of IPV.
• In the final model, age, negative affect, and relationship length remained significant predictors of IPV risk.

Conclusions:

• Negative affect and relationship length emerged as significant predictors of intimate partner violence in women.
• The study's findings, while partially inconsistent with some prior research, underscore the importance of a nuanced examination of ACEs and other risk factors.
• Further research is recommended across diverse relationship types and populations to fully understand IPV risk factors.