Cycles of violence in England and Wales: the contribution of childhood abuse to risk of violence revictimisation in adulthood

Nadia Butler,Mark A Bellis,Zara Quigg

doi:10.1186/s12916-020-01788-3

Nadia Butler, Mark A Bellis + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-020-01788-3

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Abstract

BackgroundInterpersonal violence is a leading cause of death and disability globally, has immediate and long-term impacts on individuals’ health and wellbeing, and impacts global health care expenditures and national economies. A public health approach to violence prevention is crucial, and addressing risk factors is a key priority. Global research has demonstrated that childhood adversity increases risk of a range of poor outcomes across the lifecourse. This study examined the association between being a victim of child abuse and the risk of physical assault (PA), intimate partner violence (IPV), and sexual violence (SV) victimisation in adulthood.MethodsData from a nationally representative survey of household residents (adults aged 16 to 59 years; n = 21,845) was analysed. Types of child abuse examined included physical, sexual, and psychological abuse and witnessing domestic violence. Logistic regressions examined the independent relationships between child abuse types, experiencing multiple types, and adulthood violence outcomes.ResultsMost individual types of child abuse were significantly associated with each adulthood violence outcome, after controlling for sociodemographics and other abuse types. Compared to individuals who experienced no abuse in childhood, those who experienced one form of abuse were over twice as likely to experience PA in the past year and three times as likely to have experienced IPV and/or SV since age 16 years, whilst individuals who experienced multiple types were three, six, and seven times more likely to experience PA, IPV, and SV, respectively. After controlling for sociodemographics and multi-type childhood victimisation, the type or combination of types which remained significant differed by violence outcome; child psychological and physical abuse were significantly associated with IPV; psychological and sexual abuse with SV; and psychological abuse with PA.ConclusionsPrevention of child abuse is an important goal, and evidence from the current study suggests such efforts will have a downstream effect on preventing interpersonal violence across the lifecourse. With adulthood victimisation likely to compound the already detrimental effects of childhood abuse, and given that many associated outcomes also represent adversities for the next generation, breaking the cycle of violence should be a public health priority.

Highlights

Interpersonal violence is a leading cause of death and disability globally, has immediate and longterm impacts on individuals’ health and wellbeing, and impacts global health care expenditures and national economies
All child abuse types were significantly associated with each other, with the strongest association between Child psychological abuse (CPsychA) and Child physical abuse (CPA), and the weakest association between Child sexual abuse (CSA) and Children witnessing domestic violence (CWDV) (Additional file 1: Table A3)
Whilst prevention of all forms of child abuse is an important goal for ethical, health, and economic reasons, evidence from the current study suggests such prevention efforts will have a downstream effect on preventing interpersonal violence across the lifecourse, disrupting cycles of victimisation

Summary

Introduction

Interpersonal violence is a leading cause of death and disability globally, has immediate and longterm impacts on individuals’ health and wellbeing, and impacts global health care expenditures and national economies. A public health approach to violence prevention is crucial, and addressing risk factors is a key priority. Interpersonal violence is a major public health issue, claiming over 1.3 million lives globally each year [1], and by 2030, homicide is expected to be amongst the top 20 causes of death [2]. Recent evidence estimating the health burden associated with intimate partner and sexual violence shows that women who experience either form of violence are approximately twice as likely to have alcohol use disorders and more than twice as likely to have depression, compared to women who have not experienced such violence [5]. Addressing the physical and mental health consequences of interpersonal violence imposes substantial burdens and costs on health services [9]. An improved understanding of the associated risk factors is crucial to informing effective intervention strategies to prevent, reduce, and respond to interpersonal violence

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