Neighborhood Disadvantage and Intimate Partner Violence from Adolescence to Adulthood

• In Event: Social Network, Community, and Peer Effects on Crime and Delinquency

Abstract

There is growing evidence that neighborhood levels of concentrated disadvantage affect intimate partner violence (IPV). However, the meaning of a neighborhood for a relationship may differ depending on the time period in the life course. For example, it is likely that neighborhood context is less consequential for dating adolescents and young adults than for adult cohabiting or married couples. To assess the impact of concentrated disadvantage on IPV victimization at different time points, we analyze three waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health focusing on adolescence, early adulthood, and adulthood. Indeed, we find that concentrated disadvantage has no impact on IPV victimization in adolescence or early adulthood. However, concentrated disadvantage is positively related to IPV victimization in adulthood. These results highlight the fact that the influence of neighborhood context is likely to vary depending on time period in the life course. We discuss explanations and implications of these results.

Authors

• Joanne M. Kaufman, University at Albany, SUNY

• Christine M. Walsh, University at Albany, SUNY