Childhood Domestic Violence Exposure among a Community Sample of Adult Perpetrators: What Mediates the Connection?

Abstract

The association between childhood exposure to domestic violence and later intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration in adulthood has been well established in the literature. However, the literature examining the factors of exposure that contribute to perpetration in adulthood is fraught with mixed findings, with some studies finding a direct link between childhood domestic violence exposure and later IPV perpetration and others ruling out a link after controlling for other contextual barriers such as community violence and socioeconomic status. This study examined 124 non-treatment-seeking and unadjudicated adult male IPV perpetrators and found exposure to domestic violence in childhood contributes to the normalization of violence, which could predict future adult IPV perpetration. Practice implications are discussed, namely primary and secondary prevention of intimate partner violence.

Identifying Key Predictors of Recidivism among Offenders Attending a Batterer Intervention Program: A Survival Analysis

“…The third key predictor in this study was family violence exposure earlier in life. Exposure to family violence during childhood is one of the most frequently recognized risk factors of IPVAW perpetration (Capaldi, Knoble, Shortt, & Kim, 2012;Fleming et al, 2015;Gracia, Rodríguez, Martín-Fernández, & Lila, 2017;Mbilinyi et al, 2012;Ruddle, Pina & Vasquez, 2017). Our results underline the importance of this key predictor also in IPVAW offender recidivism (see also, Fowler, Cantos, & Miller, 2016).…”

Domestic violence offending behaviors: A review of the literature examining childhood exposure, implicit theories, trait aggression and anger rumination as predictive factors

“…distorted cognitions about relationships, hostile attitudes and beliefs) (e.g. Capaldi et al, 2012;Costa et al, 2015;Eckhardt & Cane, 2014;Ernst et al, 2007;Howard et al, 2010;Mbilinyi et al, 2012;Murrell, Christoff, & Henning, 2007;Roehl & Guertin, 2014;Stuart et al, 2013;Trevillion, Oram, Feder, & Howard, 2012;Whitfield et al, 2003). Among these factors, the exposure to DV during childhood has been one of the most prevalent predictors for DV perpetration (e.g.…”

“…Among these factors, the exposure to DV during childhood has been one of the most prevalent predictors for DV perpetration (e.g. Capaldi et al, 2012;Carpenter & Stacks, 2009;Mbilinyi et al, 2012;Milaniak & Widom, 2015;Whitfield et al, 2003).…”

What Differentiates Batterer Men with and without Histories of Childhood Family Violence?

“…This exposure to family violence encompasses both direct childhood maltreatment and witnessing interparental violence. Research has shown a general rate of CFV for batterer men that ranges from 20% to 76% (Delsol & Margolin, 2004;Fernández-Montalvo et al, 2012;Fernández-Montalvo et al, 2011;Lee et al, 2013;Mbilinyi et al, 2012). More specifically, the direct victimization percentages of batterer men range from 22% to 76%, and their witnessed violence percentages range from 20% to 54% (Delsol & Margolin, 2004;Fernández-Montalvo & Echeburúa, 1997).…”