The Influence of Familial Background Factors on Intimate Partner Violence across Adolescence and Young Adulthood

• In Event: Conceptualizing Associations Between Familial Background and Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

Research continues to suggest that violence in the family of origin is a consistent predictor of individuals’ experiences with intimate partner violence (IPV) in later life. However, prior empirical studies driven by social learning theory have demonstrated that exposure to violence does not lead in a deterministic fashion to violent behaviors in young adulthood. Given that the family context entails more than simply the presence or absence of abuse, additional aspects of family life need to be taken into account. One such aspect which has been largely ignored in past literature is the quality of the parent-child relationship. Using five waves of data from the Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study (n=950), the present study examines the influence of main and interactive effects of parental violence exposure and parent-child relationship quality in predicting adolescents’ and young adults’ experiences with IPV perpetration and victimization. Results from fixed-effects analyses indicate that both parental violence and parent-child relationship quality are key components in assessing the role of familial background factors on individuals’ risk for IPV. Important gender differences are also found in regard to parental violence exposure, leading to the conclusion that family background may matter more for males when predicting romantic relationship violence.

Authors

• Angela Kaufman, Assumption College

• Alfred DeMaris, Bowling Green State University

• Peggy C. Giordano, Bowling Green State University

• Wendy D. Manning, Bowling Green State University

• Monica A. Longmore, Bowling Green State University