Intergenerational Continuity of Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration: An Investigation of Possible Mechanisms.

Sania Shakoor,David P Farrington,Delphine Theobald

doi:10.1177/0886260520959629

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a continuum of abuse that is associated with a number of negative outcomes including substance misuse, depression, and suicidal ideation. This study aims to investigate the intergenerational transmission of IPV perpetration and the mechanisms involved. Intergenerational transmission was investigated using information from two generations of the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development which is a prospective longitudinal study of 411 males from an inner London area in the UK who have been followed up over a period of 50 years. Information with regard to IPV perpetration, specifically physical violence, was garnered from self-reports by the male at age 32, from their female partner at age 48, and from their male and female children in early adulthood. Regression analyses were used to investigate intergenerational transmission and examine whether psychosocial risk factors could be identified as potential intergenerational pathways. Having a father who was a perpetrator of IPV significantly increased the odds of daughters being perpetrators by 2 times. It did not significantly increase the odds for sons. The intergenerational transmission of IPV perpetration remains between fathers and their daughters over and above a series of psychosocial factors such as accommodation problems and alcohol misuse. Identification of factors associated with the intergenerational transmission of IPV perpetration will inform practitioners and policymakers. Information garnered from studies such as this may contribute to the development of prevention and intervention strategies for those at risk.

Highlights

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is closely associated with the more commonly used term “domestic violence” but is often considered to include a wider range of contexts and behaviors with regard to partners in dating, cohabiting, and marital relationships
The current study aims to add to the limited literature on intergenerational transmission using data from the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development (CSDD: refer to Farrington et al, 2006), a prospective longitudinal study that has followed a complete cohort of males, recruited at age 8, for over 50 years, where two generations have reported on perpetration of IPV
Using logistic regression models we explored whether paternal G2 perpetration of IPV was associated with G3 offspring perpetration of IPV

Summary

Introduction

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is closely associated with the more commonly used term “domestic violence” but is often considered to include a wider range of contexts and behaviors with regard to partners in dating, cohabiting, and marital relationships (refer to Corvo, 2019). IPV can be conceptualized as a continuum of abuse, including homicide, minor and severe physical assault, sexual assault, psychological abuse, including threats, harassment, coercion, and intimidation (World Health Organization, 2013). This type of violence can occur in all types of intimate relationships and can vary in type (e.g., severe versus less-severe), frequency (e.g., regular occurrence versus rare), and purpose IPV is increasingly reported and is a huge burden for public health as it occurs regardless of age, socioeconomic status, gender, and sexuality, and it can result in a number of negative outcomes These can include substance misuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and suicidal ideation (Simmons et al, 2015) and this list is not exhaustive

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