Childhood Maltreatment and Intimate Partner Violence: 30-Year Follow-Up of a Birth Cohort Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Evidence of the association between childhood maltreatment (CM) and intimate partner violence (IPV) in adulthood often relies on retrospective data. This study examined the association of both retrospectively and prospectively reported CM and IPV at 30-year follow-up in 2401 participants from the same birth cohort in Queensland, Australia. The cohort was linked to CM notifications to statutory agencies made by the age of 16. Data on IPV victimization and self-reported CM came from the revised Composite Abuse Scale and Child Trauma Questionnaire, respectively. Rates of self- and agency-reported maltreatment were 589 (24.5%) and 137 (5.7%), respectively. After adjustment, self-reported maltreatment of all forms showed significant associations with all types of IPV. In the case of agency-reported CM, this was limited to significant associations between substantiated neglect or sexual abuse and the most serious IPV events, as well as overall notifications and physical IPV. Associations with agency-reported CM were strongest for females.