A latent profile analysis of intimate partner victimization and aggression and examination of between-class differences in psychopathology symptoms and risky behaviors.

Abstract

Objective Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with heightened psychopathology symptoms and risky behaviors. However, extant investigations are limited by their focus on IPV victimization, despite evidence to suggest that victimization and aggression frequently co-occur. Further, research on these correlates often has not accounted for the heterogeneity of women who experience victimization. Method The present study utilized latent profile analysis to identify patterns of physical, psychological, and sexual victimization and aggression in a convenience sample of 212 community women experiencing victimization (M age=36.63, 70.8% African American), as well as examined differences in psychopathology symptoms (i.e., posttraumatic stress symptoms and depressive symptoms) and risky behaviors (i.e., drug problems, alcohol problems, deliberate self-harm, HIV-risk behaviors) across these classes. Results Four classes of women differentiated by severities of victimization and aggression were identified. Greater psychopathology symptoms were found among classes defined by greater victimization and aggression, regardless of IPV type. Risky behaviors were more prevalent among classes defined by greater sexual victimization and aggression in particular. Conclusions Findings highlight the importance of developing interventions that target the particular needs of subgroups of women who experience victimization.

Empirically derived lifespan polytraumatization typologies: A systematic review

“…After removing duplicates, we short-listed 442 unique articles. We identified two additional articles outside the database search; one study was published after our initial search and identified by an author (Weiss et al, 2016), and another study was identified through secondary screening (Carbone-López, Kruttschnitt, & Macmillan, 2006). In total, two coauthors reviewed 444 abstracts, and excluded 348 articles based on abstract review.…”

Trauma exposure and heavy drinking and drug use among college students: Identifying the roles of negative and positive affect lability in a daily diary study

“…Future studies are needed to clarify the role of the different facets of positive emotional experiences in heavy drinking and drug use, including responses to versus quality of (e.g., see Weiss et al, 2015 for a measure of difficulties regulating positive emotions) positive emotions. Given evidence here for higher levels of positive affect lability among trauma-exposed individuals, it also will be important for future investigations to identify the contribution of positive affect lability to other health consequences, including risky behaviors (e.g., risky sexual behavior) and psychopathology (e.g., posttraumatic stress; Chen et al, 2010; Weiss, Dixon-Gordon, et al, in press).…”

Family factors associated with self‐harm in adults: a systematic review

“…Two studies by Weiss and colleagues (Weiss et al ., ; Weiss, Dixon‐Gordon, Duke and Sullivan, ) sought to explain the mediating factors which underlie the relationship between IPV and self‐harm. Weiss et al .…”

“…Weiss et al . 's () study of 212 community women experiencing victimization examined the associations between physical, sexual and psychology victimization and aggression, psychopathology and risky behaviours such as self‐harm, substance abuse and HIV‐risk behaviours. Greater psychopathology symptoms were found among women defined by greater victimization and aggression, regardless of IPV type.…”

“…Two studies by Weiss and colleagues (Weiss et al, 2017;Weiss, Dixon-Gordon, Duke and Sullivan, 2015) sought to explain the mediating factors which underlie the relationship between IPV and self-harm. Weiss et al's (2015) study of a community sample of 197 African American women examined a potential mediating role of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the relationship between IPV and self-harm.…”