Adult Interpersonal Violence Research Articles

Enhancing research engagement in MSW students by investigating social work majors’ adverse life events and mental health outcomes

ABSTRACT Research literacy for graduate social work students may be enhanced by approaching the process of teaching research methods from an experiential learning perspective. This article provides an overview of an introductory MSW research course where students investigated adverse life events (ALEs) and their association with mental health outcomes in social work majors (N = 51). MSW students’ inquiry into ALEs helped to increase their understanding of the practical elements of trauma exposure and aftermath, along with conducting research that adds to the knowledge base of the topic. The findings on childhood maltreatment, adult interpersonal violence, and mental health outcomes are presented, along with students’ process of constructing and implementing their research studies. ALEs were common across the lifespan. However, few associations were found between ALEs, whether in childhood or adulthood, and mental (depression, anxiety, stress) and behavioral (alcohol use, cannabis use) health. Such findings underscored for students the complex relationship between psychological distress and resilience for social work trainees. Implications include further investigation to examine how positive coping skills may serve as essential moderators that create stress-buffering effects for social work trainees in the context of risk. Such information may enhance curricula to prepare students better to achieve professional competence.

Lifetime Interpersonal Violence or Abuse and Diabetes Rates by Sex and Race

Lifetime exposure to interpersonal violence or abuse has been associated with several chronic diseases, including adult-onset diabetes, yet this pattern has not been confirmed by sex and race within a large cohort. Data from the Southern Community Cohort Study collected between 2002-2009 and 2012-2015 were used to explore the relationship between lifetime interpersonal violence or abuse and diabetes (N=25,251). Prospective analyses of lower-income people living in the southeastern U.S. were conducted in 2022 to examine the risk of adult-onset diabetes associated with lifetime interpersonal violence or abuse by sex and race. Lifetime interpersonal violence or abuse was defined as (1) physical or psychological violence, threats, or abuse in adulthood (adult interpersonal violence or abuse) and (2) childhood abuse or neglect. After adjustment for potentially confounding factors, adult interpersonal violence or abuse was associated with a 23% increased risk of diabetes (adjusted hazard ratio=1.23; 95% CI=1.16, 1.30). Diabetes risks associated with childhood abuse or neglect were 15% (95% CI=1.02, 1.30) for neglect and 26% (95% CI=1.19, 1.35) for abuse. When combining adult interpersonal violence or abuse and childhood abuse or neglect, the risk of diabetes was 35% higher (adjusted hazard ratio=1.35; 95% CI=1.26, 1.45) than those experiencing no violence, abuse, or neglect. This pattern held among Black and White participants, and among women and men. Both adult interpersonal violence or abuse and childhood abuse or neglect increased the risk of adult-onset diabetes in a dose-dependent pattern for men and women, and by race. Intervention and prevention efforts to reduce adult interpersonal violence or abuse and childhood abuse or neglect could not only reduce the risk of lifetime interpersonal violence or abuse but may also reduce one of the most prevalent chronic diseases, adult-onset diabetes.

The missed pandemic: Intimate partner violence in female mental-health-care-users during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)and interpersonal violence (IPV) in mentally ill women are often neglected andneed to be reviewed in light of the suggested increase in IPV during theCOVID-19 pandemic. We investigated the prevalence ofACEs and IPV in women living with severe mental illness (SMI) attending anoutpatient psychiatry service at a public hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, SouthAfrica, during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also describedthe association of ACEs with later IPV. A written survey comprising socio-demographic and clinical questionnaire, WHO Adverse Childhood ExperiencesInternational Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) for ACEs and the Women abuse screeningtool (WAST) for IPV, was completed by the 154 women with SMI. 141 (91.6%) participants scoredpositive for ACEs and 104 (67.5%) had experienced three or more ACEs. The mostprevalent forms of ACEs were emotionalneglect 72 (46.8%), one or no parents, parental separation, or divorce 104(67.5%), contact sexual abuse 67 (43.5%) and witnessing a household membertreated violently 67 (43.5%). Sixty-one (46.6%) participants reported IPV withscores 13 (indicative of abuse). On logistic regression,experience of three ormore ACEs was significantly associated with IPV in adulthood (aOR 3.3, 95% CI:1.2-9.6). Thehigh prevalence of IPV and association of IPV with cumulative ACEs reflectfirstly the hidden epidemic of domestic violence and secondly the vulnerabilityof those with ACEs to become victims of abuse later which is often missed in the care of women with SMI.

The relationship between interpersonal violence in adulthood and mental health: a longitudinal study based on the Northern Swedish Cohort

BackgroundLongitudinal studies evaluating the negative effects of exposure to interpersonal violence in the adulthood on the mental health of both women and men are scarce. Using longitudinal data, we evaluated the relationship between the last year experience of violence and functional somatic and depressive symptoms at the ages of 30 and 43 among participants (n = 1006; 483 women and 523 men) in the Northern Swedish Cohort. Further, the relationship between cumulative exposure to violence over a decade and mental health symptoms among participants was evaluated.MethodsParticipants’ experience of interpersonal violence and symptoms of functional somatic and depressive symptoms were evaluated with standard questionnaires at the ages of 30 and 43. General linear models were used to evaluate the relationship between the experience of interpersonal violence and mental health symptoms among the participants. The interactions between gender and violence on functional somatic and depressive symptoms were evaluated separately, and models in which the interaction was significant, were split by gender.ResultsWe found that the last year experience of violence at the age of 30 was related to current functional somatic symptoms among all participants and depressive symptoms only among men, (β Adj for the experience of any violence among men: 0.21; CI: 0.12–0.29; Vs. among women: 0.06; CI: -0.04-0.16, p for interaction = 0.02). At the age of 43, last year experience of violence was related to both functional somatic and depressive symptoms in both genders. Finally, a cumulative relationship between the experience of violence over time and mental health symptoms was observed in all participants.ConclusionsOur findings revealed that while the relationship between the experience of interpersonal violence and mental health symptoms may differ among men and women and with age, the experience of violence can be negatively related to the mental health in both genders.

"Mtoto Wa Nyoka Ni Nyoka," The Child of a Snake is a Snake: A Narrative Analysis of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Perpetration of Interpersonal Violence Among Men in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Childhood exposure to adversity, including abuse and neglect, is consistently found to be a predictor of intimate partner violence (IPV) and peer violence (PV) perpetration in adulthood. The purpose of this study is to qualitatively examine factors that may facilitate or impede the use of violence among those who have been exposed to adversity early in life. We are particularly interested in protective experiences or environments for these participants. The qualitative data were analyzed through thematic coding and narrative analysis of participant life histories.We found three salient themes: (a) parental acceptance and early attachment is protective for coping with stress with intimate partners in adulthood; (b) certain key life turning points can provide a protective context against violent behavior in adulthood; and (c) poverty in adulthood compromises one’s ability to cope with stress and anger in adulthood.Our findings contextualize the different factors that may affect the behavior of perpetration of interpersonal violence among high-risk men in Dar es Salaam who have been exposed to adversity in childhood. These findings provide important information on the risk and protective factors for interpersonal violence spanning from childhood to adulthood. This study highlights the importance of child development interventions in this situation, both for the primary prevention of child adversity and for promoting resilience and mitigating the effects of childhood adversity that put men at risk for perpetration of interpersonal violence in adulthood.

Youth and Young Adult Victims of Interpersonal Violence at LA County + USC Medical Center: A Review of Epidemiology and Recidivism

Youth and young adult interpersonal violence (IPV) is a unique clinical challenge which merits study. This study defined the demographics and clinical outcomes of youth and young adult victims of IPV presenting to our hospital while examining violent injury recidivism. We reviewed patients aged 10 to 30 years admitted to our trauma bay as a victim of gunshot wound (GSW), stabbing wound, or blunt assault from 1998 to 2015 (n = 12,549). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to compare patient mortality across demographic characteristics, and Cox proportional hazards regression was used to determine risk factors for recidivism. Male (92%) and Hispanic patients (75%) constituted the majority of admissions. We observed differences in the mortality rate by gender (9% in males vs 5% in females, P < 0.001), race/ethnicity (5% non-Hispanic white vs 9% Hispanic, P = 0.001), insurance status (3% insured vs 10% uninsured, P < 0.001), and mechanism of injury (13% GSW, 2% stabbing wound, and 0.3% blunt assault, P < 0.001). Male gender, younger age, GSW, and amphetamine placed patients at higher risk for IPV recidivism (P < 0.05). This study demonstrates the need to better understand how demographics and economics are associated with youth and young adult IPV. In addition, future IPV prevention and intervention initiatives can be tailored to suit the unique needs of our population.

Where do they learn violence? The roles of three forms of violent socialization in childhood

Early violent socialization in family and community contexts has consistently been found to affect individuals' attitudes toward interpersonal violence in adulthood. The specific sources and processes underlying children’s acquisition of attitudes toward violence, however, are poorly specified and unelaborated. The current study examined how three types of early violent socialization differently influenced college students’ (N = 3841) acceptance of interpersonal violence and how these influences differed according to gender. Findings from multiple linear regression analyses indicated that advised violence, witnessed violence, and victimized violence each contributed to college students’ acceptance of violence as a valid problem-solving strategy. However, each form of violence differently affected students’ acceptance of violence. Receiving verbal advice to be violent from family and community members had stronger associations with students’ acceptance of interpersonal violence than did witnessing or experiencing violence during childhood. These relationships were not significantly different between male and female students. Whereas existing studies on violent socialization have largely focused on the effects of witnessing and experiencing violence during childhood, our findings also highlight the significant impact of that receiving pro-violence messages from family and community members has on young college students’ acceptance of interpersonal violence. This connection suggests that educational programs targeting parents and community elders should focus on encouraging anti-violence attitudes and coaching children in nonviolent conflict-resolution skills. Our results might help inform college violence prevention practitioners in developing programs for college students to help change their pro-violence attitudes.

Childhood and adolescent animal cruelty and subsequent interpersonal violence in adulthood: A review of the literature

Abstract Animal cruelty has been a growing concern worldwide, and is broadly defined as all socially unacceptable behaviors that are intentionally perpetrated to cause unnecessary pain, suffering, distress, and/or death to an animal. This review synthesizes more than 87 research studies identified through online databases and manual search of specific studies. Findings denote that beating, hitting, or kicking, shooting, strangling or smothering, stabbing, and sexual abusing are reported to be the commonly used methods in abusing animals. In addition, children and adolescents abused animals for different reasons; and those who exposed to domestic violence are likely to have higher rates of animal cruelty, which in turn increases their subsequent propensity to engage in delinquent behavior. Male children and adolescents are more likely than their female counterparts to commit acts of animal cruelty. It is noteworthy that early onset of animal cruelty acts is suggested to be predictive of subsequent violent or antisocial behavior. Arguably, bestiality is an act of animal abuse, or specifically as interspecies sexual abuse. More importantly, this review has noted a strong support for the increased risk of children and adolescents who commit animal cruelty to perpetrate interpersonal violence against human victims in later life. Five key theoretical models (i.e., social learning theory, frustration theory, deviance generalization hypothesis, graduation hypothesis, and sexual polymorphous theory) are discussed to explain the link between childhood and/or adolescent animal cruelty and subsequent violence against human victims in adulthood. Implications for research and future research are discussed.

Animal maltreatment from ancient times to the 21st century: Foundation for a call to action now

Animal maltreatment from ancient times to the 21st century: Foundation for a call to action now

The predictive ability of childhood animal cruelty methods for later interpersonal crimes.

Research on the topic of childhood animal cruelty methods and their link to interpersonal violence is sparse. Most of the studies that do exist focus only on the frequencies of different methods of childhood animal cruelty. Only two studies to date have examined the predictive nature of these methods for later violence toward humans. One of these previous studies found that drowning and having sex with animals were predictive of later human violence, while the other found that sex with animals and the age at which the offenders began committing animal cruelty were its only statistically significant predictors. Using data collected from 257 anonymous self-reports by male inmates at a medium-security prison in a Southern state, we investigate the predictive ability of several retrospectively identified childhood animal cruelty methods (i.e., drowning, hitting/beating, hitting with rocks, shooting, kicking, choking, burning, stabbing, having sex, and starving/neglecting) for later violent crimes toward humans. Regression analyses revealed that recurrent (i.e., more than once) childhood animal cruelty and stabbing animals were the only statistically significant variables in the model that predicted recurrent interpersonal violence in adulthood.

Recurrent Childhood Animal Cruelty and Its Link to Recurrent Adult Interpersonal Violence.

In the early 1960s, researchers began to examine the potential link between childhood animal cruelty and future interpersonal violence. Findings since then have been inconsistent in establishing a relationship between the two. This may be due to researchers failing to measure the recurrency of childhood animal abuse and the recurrency of later violent acts committed in adulthood. The current study, using data from 257 inmates at a medium-security prison in a Southern state, is a replication of research conducted by Tallichet and Hensley, and Hensley, Tallichet, and Dutkiewicz, which examined this recurrency issue. The only statistically significant predictor of recurrent adult interpersonal violence in this study was recurrent childhood animal cruelty. Inmates who engaged in recurrent childhood animal cruelty were more likely to commit recurrent adult interpersonal violence. Respondents' race, education, and childhood residence were not significant predictors of the outcome variable.

Exploring the social and emotional context of childhood animal cruelty and its potential link to adult human violence

ABSTRACTThose who commit acts of animal cruelty may do so differently based upon how they individually experience such acts. These experiences may impact the link that exists between childhood animal abuse and later interpersonal violence. Limited research exists that examines how social and emotional factors such as being upset after committing animal cruelty may impact the progression from early acts of animal cruelty to later acts of adult violence against humans. Based on responses from 180 prison inmates in a Southern state, the current study examined the effects of onset and frequency of animal cruelty, covertness of animal cruelty, the commission of animal cruelty alone or in a group, and being upset after committing animal cruelty. Inmates who committed recurrent acts of childhood animal cruelty were more likely to commit recurrent acts of adult interpersonal violence.

Psychiatric morbidity among female commercial sex workers.

Context:Psychological distress is higher in women working in sex industry. The various psycho social issues are associated with female commercial sex workers (FCSWs). The host of psychosocial vulnerabilities including, childhood sexual abuse, exposure to childhood physical abuse, poverty, interpersonal violence in adulthood, sexually transmitted diseases, and substance use, forms a fertile ground for psychiatric morbidity.Aim:This study aims to assess the psychiatric morbidity among FCSWs in Shillong, India.Materials and Methods:In the present study, 100 FCSWs were selected. For the recruitment of sample, simple random sampling procedure was followed; sociodemographic data sheet and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview were administered.Results:In the study, it was found that 9% of the respondents reported having major depressive episode (current), 25% of the respondents reported major depressive episode (past), 3% were having major depressive episode with melancholic features (current), 21% of the respondents reported posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 8% of the respondents reported to have alcohol dependence, 3% of the respondents reported to have nonalcohol psychoactive substance use disorder, 8% of the respondents were found to have generalized anxiety disorder, and 9% of the respondents were found to have antisocial personality disorder.Conclusions:There is a prevalence of mental health problems in the FCSW. Assessment of the psychiatric morbidity in FCSW is significant in developing health policy and interventions to reduce their impact on their well-being. It is the immediate need that the governmental and nongovernmental agencies, mental health professionals, and workers in this area need to be sensitized to the issue of mental health status of the commercial sex workers.

A Systematic Review of Posttraumatic Growth in Survivors of Interpersonal Violence in Adulthood

This review critically evaluates the literature on posttraumatic growth in survivors of interpersonal violence, integrating the findings from 12 quantitative and 4 qualitative studies. The following databases were searched using predetermined terms: AMED, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, BNI, CINAHL, and Web of Knowledge. The review’s findings suggest that the mean prevalence of growth in interpersonal violence survivors is around 71% (range 58–99%). The highest level of growth was consistently experienced in the “appreciation of life” domain. However, survivors reported growth in the four remaining domains: “personal strength,” “new possibilities,” “experience of relationships with others,” and “outlook on life.” The nature of the relationship between growth and distress was inconsistent across studies. A combination of pretrauma, peritrauma, and posttrauma variables were found to be related to the degree of growth survivors experienced. Methodological weaknesses of the quantitative studies included the predominant use of retrospective, cross-sectional, correlational designs, discrepancy in the measurement of growth, insufficient sample sizes for power calculations in five studies and limited external validity. Qualitative findings were limited by sampling methods, insufficient information about interview schedules, the lack of credibility checks, and evidence of reflexivity demonstrated by some studies. Implications for practice, policy, and future research are discussed.

Childhood animal cruelty, bestiality, and the link to adult interpersonal violence

Animal cruelty has been a concern of the legal and psychiatric communities for many years. Beginning in the early 1800s, state legislatures in the United States established laws to protect the basic safety and security of animals in their jurisdictions. Legislatures have differed in opinion on the animals to receive protection under the law and have instituted differing penalties for infractions of anti-cruelty measures. In the 1960s, the psychiatric community took notice of childhood animal cruelty as a potential risk factor for violent acts against humans. Since that time there has been increasing evidence that children who engage in animal cruelty may be at increased risk of interpersonal offenses in adulthood. Less is known about children and adults who engage in bestiality and the potential risk that these individuals may pose for interpersonal sexual or nonsexual violent acts. We review the legal status of animal cruelty in the United States, summarize the history of psychiatric interest in and research of animal cruelty, describe current knowledge regarding the link between animal cruelty and violence, and propose a novel classification scheme for individuals who engage in bestiality to assist forensic psychiatric examiners in determining the risk that such behavior poses for future interpersonal offending.

Thyroid hormones and adult interpersonal violence among women with borderline personality disorder

Elevated T3 levels have been reported in men with antisocial behavior. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between thyroid hormones and expressed adult interpersonal violence in female patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Furthermore, expressed adult interpersonal violence in female BPD patients was compared to healthy female controls. A total of 92 clinically euthyroid women with BPD and 57 healthy women were assessed with the Karolinska Interpersonal Violence Scales (KIVS). Baseline thyroid function was evaluated by measuring plasma free and bound triiodothyronine (FT3 and T3), thyroxine (FT4 and T4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) with immunoassays in patients. Plasma cortisol was also measured. Among females with BPD, expressed interpersonal violence as an adult showed a significant positive correlation with the T3 levels. The mean expression of interpersonal violence as an adult was significantly higher in BPD patients as compared to healthy controls. The multiple regression model indicated that two independent predictors of KIVS expressed interpersonal violence as an adult: T3 and comorbid diagnosis of alcohol abuse. Association between T3 levels and violent/aggressive behavior earlier reported exclusively in male samples may be valid also in females with BPD.

Risk factors for adult interpersonal violence in suicide attempters.

BackgroundSuicidal and violent behaviours are interlinked and share common biological underpinnings. In the present study we analysed the association between violent behaviour as a child, childhood trauma, adult psychiatric illness, and substance abuse in relation to interpersonal violence as an adult in suicide attempters with mood disorders.MethodsA total of 161 suicide attempters were diagnosed with Structured Clinical Interviews and assessed with the Karolinska Interpersonal Violence Scale (KIVS) measuring exposure to violence and expressed violent behaviour in childhood (between 6-14 years of age) and during adult life (15 years or older). Ninety five healthy volunteers were used as a comparison group. A logistic regression analysis was conducted with the two KIVS subscales, expressed violent behaviour as a child and exposure to violence in childhood together with substance abuse, personality disorder diagnoses and age as possible predictors of adult interpersonal violence in suicide attempters.ResultsViolent behaviour as a child, age and substance abuse were significant predictors of adult interpersonal violence. ROC analysis for the prediction model for adult violence with the KIVS subscale expressed violence as a child gave an AUC of 0.79. Using two predictors: violent behaviour as a child and substance abuse diagnosis gave an AUC of 0.84. The optimal cut-off for the KIVS subscale expressed violence as a child was higher for male suicide attempters.ConclusionsViolent behaviour in childhood and substance abuse are important risk factors for adult interpersonal violent behaviour in suicide attempters.

2099 – Clinical risk factors for interpersonal violence in adulthood in suicide attempters

Introduction Early environmental risk factors have a role in the development of violent behaviour in adulthood. Aims The aim of the study was to assess the impact of childhood trauma, expressed violent behaviour as a child, co morbid personality disorder and substance abuse on self reported interpersonal violence as an adult in suicide attempters. Methods A total of 161 suicide attempters were diagnosed with SCID I and II and assessed with the Karolinska Interpersonal Violence Scale (KIVS) measuring exposure to violence and expressed violent behaviour in childhood (between 6-14 years of age) and during adult life (15 years or older). A standard linear regression analyses was conducted with the two predictive KIVS subscales exposure to violence as a child and expressed violent behaviour as a child, Axis 1 mood and anxiety disorder diagnosis, co morbid substance abuse diagnosis, co morbid personality disorder diagnosis, age and gender as predictors of expressed interpersonal violence as an adult. Results The regression model was significant with adjusted R square 0.22, F ratio 7.2, DF=7, p Conclusions It is important to take into account expressed violent behaviour in childhood in violence risk assessments.

Intimate Partner Violence among California Couples: Multilevel Analysis of Environmental and Partner Risk Factors.

This study assessed the extent to which environmental (Census block-group alcohol outlet density, neighborhood demographic characteristics) and partner risk factors (e.g., hazardous drinking, psychosocial characteristics) contribute to the likelihood of intimate partner violence among 1,753 couples residing in 50 medium-to-large California cities. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to analyze the role of alcohol outlets (off-premise outlets, bars/pubs and restaurants), neighborhood demographic characteristics, and partner risk factors in relation to male-to-female partner violence (MFPV) and female-to-male partner violence (FMPV) risk. Approximately 12% of couples reported past-year partner violence. Results showed that none of the environmental measures were related to MFPV or FMPV. Male partner's impulsivity and each partner's adverse childhood experiences were associated with MFPV risk. Risk factors for FMPV were male partner's impulsivity and frequency of intoxication and female partner's adverse childhood experiences. Individual/couple characteristics appear to be the most salient IPV risk factors. The male partner's heavy drinking may lead to negative partner/spousal interactions that result in FMPV. The male partner's impulsivity, and each partner's adverse childhood experiences, may potentiate couple conflict and result in aggression. Interventions that target prevention of family dysfunction during childhood may help reduce interpersonal violence in adulthood.

Emotion Regulation Difficulties, Low Social Support, and Interpersonal Violence Mediate the Link Between Childhood Abuse and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

We examined how difficulties with emotion regulation, social support, and interpersonal violence in adult relationships mediated the relationship between childhood abuse and post traumatic symptoms (PTS) in adults. We fit a multiple mediation model to data from 139 socio-economically disadvantaged women (85% African American) of whom 44% endorsed moderate to severe levels of childhood physical, sexual, or emotional abuse and 12% screened positive for probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The model accounted for 63% of the variance in adult PTS symptoms. Child abuse exerted a direct effect on PTS symptoms and indirect effects through difficulties with emotion regulation, lower social support, and greater exposure to adult interpersonal violence. Implications of findings for the treatment of individuals at high risk of having experienced childhood abuse and PTS are discussed.