People who experience adverse events such as abuse, neglect, or family dysfunction in childhood are more likely to be a victim or perpetrator of intimate partner violence as adults, according to new research. The study was published in the journal Development and Psychopathology.
Intimate partner violence (IPV), which encompasses physical, sexual, and emotional harm toward a current or former partner, is a global health issue with detrimental consequences for physical and mental health.
Previous research has suggested that one of the risk factors for IPV is having experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). ACEs include physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, neglect, or witnessing domestic violence, parental substance use, parental incarceration, or divorce, before the age of 18 years.
However, the results of these studies have been inconsistent, demonstrating different strengths of the association between ACEs and IPV. Some studies have also examined whether this association varies depending on factors such as gender, age, race/ethnicity, type of IPV (physical, sexual, psychological), and the year that the study was published – again with mixed results.
To clarify these discrepancies and provide a more accurate estimate of the association between ACEs and IPV (both victimization and perpetration), the researchers conducted a meta-analysis, which is a statistical technique that combines the results of multiple studies.
Led by Jenney Zhu from the University of Calgary, Canada, the study team searched electronic databases for studies that measured ACEs and IPV using self-report, interviews, or official records. They included 27 studies with a total of 65,330 participants from different countries and contexts.
The results demonstrated that ACEs were positively associated with both IPV perpetration and victimization, meaning that people who had more ACEs were more likely to be violent or experience violence in their intimate relationships. The effect sizes were small to medium in magnitude, indicating a moderate but significant relationship between ACEs and IPV.
Zhu and colleagues explained, “it has been proposed that parent–child attachment may play a role, such that abuse perpetrated by a caregiving figure (e.g., father; stepfather) towards the child or the child’s attachment figure (e.g., mother) may impact the child’s sense of safety and security. When a child’s safety and security is threatened, they may develop the perception that the world is hostile and engage in more aggressive tendencies towards others.”
The association may also be explained in terms of neurophysiology, “repeated exposure to stress can lead to … negative implications for neurological development. This, in turn, can lead to impairments in stress responses and coping, and the management of emotional arousal, thereby increasing the likelihood of engaging in violent behavior.”
Behavioral genetics may also be a contributing factor, “genes associated with violent behaviors may be shared between parents and offspring. Genetics may explain the tendency for why some individuals who are maltreated by parents go on to perpetrate maltreatment in adulthood,” Zhu and colleagues added.
Moreover, the researchers found that the connection between ACEs and IPV victimization was stronger for younger participants. “This … is consistent with existing research that has found antisocial behavior tends to peak in early adulthood and decrease with age… adulthood is associated with greater responsibility, including those related to careers and parenthood, and this transition generally leads to a decrease in crime,” the study authors highlighted.
The association between ACEs and IPV victimization was also stronger for more recent studies. The authors proposed, “increased screening for both ACEs and IPV … may have implications for reducing stigma surrounding disclosure of both experiences when participating in research. [For example,] ACEs screening has been implemented in routine primary care and has been rated with a high degree of acceptability by participants.”
Conversely to IPV victimization, Zhu and colleagues did not find any significant factors that could influence the association between ACEs and IPV perpetration.
The study has some limitations, such as relying on retrospective recollection of ACEs, which is prone to biases in memory. Furthermore, North American studies were overrepresented, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Finally, the meta-analysis only examined participants identifying as heterosexual, with limited knowledge about IPV amongst 2SLGTBQIA+ individuals.
The study, “Adverse childhood experiences and intimate partner violence: A meta-analysis”, was authored by Jenney Zhu, Deinera Exner-Cortens, Keith Dobson, Lana Wells, Melanie Noel, and Sheri Madigan.