A Path Model of Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Violence among Couples in the United States

Abstract

The present study was designed to identify the impact of drinking problems, impulsivity, and a history of childhood physical abuse on both male-to-female (MFIPV) and female-to-male intimate partner violence (FMIPV). The data were collected in 1995 from a representative national sample of couples living in the contiguous 48 states. Using a multistage probability sampling design, face-to-face interviews were conducted in respondent' homes, privately with each member of 1, 635 couples. A complex path model building on earlier work was tested for African American, Hispanic, and White couples separately. Multiple-group path analysis demonstrated that impulsivity, alcohol problems, and childhood physical abuse were differentially associated with reports of MFIPV and FMIPV as a function of ethnicity. This study suggests that a history of being physically harmed by parental figures during childhood, impulsivity, and drinking problems are all risk factors for intimate partner violence in the general household population in the United States.

Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programs: A Proposal for Evidence-Based Standards in the United States

“…With respect to African American perpetrators, the conclusion from the limited research that is available seems to be that traditional BIPs are just as ineffective for all races and that culturally focused interventions may be important for those perpetrators with higher racial identification. Given that the variables alcohol abuse, use of illegal drugs, unemployment, exposure to community violence, exposure to IPV within family of origin, impoverished neighborhoods, and economic distress (most significant) all appear to be risk factors for African American perpetrators of IPV Cunradi et al, 2002;Schafer et al, 2004;Williams et al, 2008), the consensus seems to be that in culturally focused interventions, social conditions and stressors particular to the African American community should be considered and integrated into program curricula as well as religion and spirituality. Increased participation and satisfaction of Latino offenders in a culturally focused program suggests reason for further investigation into the benefits of culturally based curricula for Latinos.…”

“…Conwill (2010) posits that the severe realities of internalized and institutional racism faced by African Americans contribute to low self-esteem and violence. The variables alcohol abuse, use of illegal drugs, unemployment, exposure to community violence, exposure to IPV within family of origin, impoverished neighborhoods, and economic distress (most significant) all appear to be risk factors for African American perpetrators of IPV Cunradi et al, 2002;Schafer et al, 2004;Williams et al, 2008). In consideration of the development of culturally focused interventions, social conditions and stressors particular to the African American community should be considered and integrated into program curricula.…”

“…In an effort to contribute to the development of culturally relevant BIP curricula for racial and ethnic minority groups, researchers have investigated significant personal, familial, and structural issues specific to IPV perpetrators of different races and ethnicities. Researchers have examined the intersection of socioeconomic conditions and racism and its role in African American male perpetrators' abusive behavior (Ackard, Neumark-Sztainer, & Hannan, 2002;Feldman & Gowen, 1998;Scherzer & Pinderhughes, 2002;West, 2008) as well as other predictors and risk factors of IPV particular to the African American community Caetano, Field, Ramisetty-Mikler, & Lipsky, 2009;Caetano et al, 2005;Caetano, Schafer, Field, & Nelson, 2002;Clark, Beckett, Wells, & Dungee-Anderson, 1994;Cunradi, 2009;Cunradi, Caetano, Clark, & Schafer, 1999;Cunradi, Caetano, & Schafer, 2002;Field & Caetano, 2003Schafer, Caetano, & Cunradi, 2004;West & Rose, 2000). Conwill (2010) posits that the severe realities of internalized and institutional racism faced by African Americans contribute to low self-esteem and violence.…”

Forma de crianza recibida por el agresor y su asociación con violencia hacia la pareja en tres ciudades de la selva peruana en el año 2004.

“…Las formas de crianza caracterizadas por el castigo y maltrato físico, son mencionadas como factores de riesgo para la generación de conductas antisociales y de VCP (8,9,(12)(13)(14)(15). En este estudio encontramos que "haber recibido más castigos de los que merecía" no tuvo asociación con ninguna forma de violencia; mientras que "haber sido castigado severamente por cosas pequeñas" sí se asoció con violencia por abandono, pero no con violencia física y psicológica, como ha sido señalada en algunos estudios previos (12)(13)(14)(15) los mismos que no contemplaron la violencia por abandono.…”

“…En este estudio encontramos que "haber recibido más castigos de los que merecía" no tuvo asociación con ninguna forma de violencia; mientras que "haber sido castigado severamente por cosas pequeñas" sí se asoció con violencia por abandono, pero no con violencia física y psicológica, como ha sido señalada en algunos estudios previos (12)(13)(14)(15) los mismos que no contemplaron la violencia por abandono. Sin embargo, las asociaciones descritas en estos estudios han sido cuestionadas (23) debido a algunas limitaciones metodológicas: diseños retrospectivos (12)(13)(14), sesgos por recuerdo de información (14), sesgos de selección de las muestras al no estar basados en una población general (12,14) y, en el caso de White, debido a que se evaluó de manera conjunta el abuso físico y sexual sufrido durante la infancia (16). De otro lado, estos estudios evaluaron formas severas y sistemáticas de castigo de tipo físico (no objetivadas específicamente en el presente estudio) y no reflejan otras formas de castigo ni aquellas que siendo formas de castigo físico, no producen lesiones mayores (por ejemplo, azotes con las manos y bofetadas) y que podrían tener otro significado en la población general; así, otros autores sugieren que "la información existente no justifica una medida general en contra de prácticas disciplinarias leves a moderadas" (24).…”