Associations between childhood trauma, separation insecurity, and intimate partner violence victimization during the...

Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects upwards of 12 million people annually and is associated with psychological consequences for survivors (Black et al., 2011). Childhood trauma exposure (CTE) and separation insecurity are established correlates of IPV victimization; however, possible interactive effects remain unclear.

This study examined whether separation insecurity moderates the relation between CTE and IPV victimization in a population of IPV survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesized that high levels of separation insecurity would strengthen the association between CTE and IPV victimization.

This study included a cross-sectional sample of 85 adult IPV survivors (92 % female; 54 % African-American; M_age = 36.41).

Participants completed surveys of demographics, CTE, personality, COVID-19-related distress, and IPV. Moderation analyses were conducted in SPSS.

A significant positive relation was found between CTE and IPV victimization (β = 0.40, t(81) = 3.97, p < .01). Separation insecurity moderated this relation (ΔR² = 0.04, F(1, 81) = 4.54, β = -0.22, t(81) = -2.13, p = .04), such that the association was only significant at low and moderate levels of separation insecurity. In our second model, accounting for COVID-related distress scales, the moderating effect was no longer significant. Results indicated a positive association between COVID-related financial strain and IPV victimization (β = 0.38, t(78) = 3.63, p < .01).

These findings highlight how risk factors, such as CTE, separation insecurity, and financial stress may influence IPV victimization. Further research is crucial for informing interventions for IPV survivors.