Intergenerational Continuity of Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration: an investigation of possible mechanisms

Abstract

Background: Intimate Partner Violencei s a continuum of abuse which is associated with a number of negative outcomes including substance misuse, depression and suicidal ideation.This study aims to investigate the intergenerational transmission of Intimate Partner Violence perpetration and the mechanisms involved. <br/ >Methods: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 Intimate Partner Violence 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. <br/ >Results:Having a father who was a perpetrator of Intimate Partner Violence significantly increased the odds of daughters being perpetrators by 2 times.It did not significantly increase the odds for sons. The intergenerational transmission of Intimate Partner Violence perpetration remains between fathers and their daughters over and above a series of psychosocial factors such as accommodation problems and alcohol misuse. Conclusions:Identification of factors associated with the intergenerational transmission of Intimate Partner Violence perpetration will inform practitioners and policy makers. Information garnered from studies such as this may contribute to the development of prevention and intervention strategies for those at risk.<br/ ><br/ >Keywords:Intimate Partner Violence, intergenerational transmission, psychosocial factors