Persistence and Desistance of the Perpetration of Physical Aggression Across Relationships

Abstract

This study examined the persistent perpetration of physical intimate partner violence (IPV) across relationships. Based on the National Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health, data were analyzed on 6,446 young adults, who reported on two recent relationships. Frequency and logistic regression analyses were used to examine the persistence of physical IPV perpetration across relationships and the predictors of persistent perpetration. Among individuals who perpetrated physical violence in their first relationship, 29.7% persisted in their perpetration in the second relationship and 70.3% desisted. Significant predictors of persistent physical IPV in the final multi-variate model were as follows: IPV frequency in the first relationship, age, living together versus apart in the subsequent relationship, respondent being better educated than the partner, and being an IPV victim in second relationship. The persistence of physical IPV across relationships was relatively low, with desistance being much more common. Factors specific to the second relationship were the strongest predictors of persistence.

Offending competency and coercive control in intimate partner violence

“…Collectively, these studies suggest that several different trajectories of violence in intimate relationships exist (Cantos & O'Leary, 2014), which fits with the evidence that desistance is the most typical longitudinal trajectory (Whitaker, Le & Niolon, 2010) other than when the violence and abuse is severe. What is unclear however, despite the small number of longitudinal studies available is whether, akin to delinquency (e.g., Moffitt, 1993), those who initiate violence and abuse at an earlier age, are more likely to engage in more severe forms during adulthood that are characterized by coercive control.…”

The Age–IPV Curve: Changes in the Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence During Adolescence and Young Adulthood

“…It is important to consider how IPV changes across relationships since it is generally assumed that IPV reaches its peak during late adolescence and young adulthood (O’Leary 1999), and there is considerable turnover in romantic partners during this period (Arnett 2004). Whitaker et al (2010) found that, while IPV perpetration in a prior relationship was positively associated with IPV perpetration in the subsequent relationship, 70.3% of those prior perpetrators had desisted, thus demonstrating the high rate of variability in IPV experiences across relationships. Shortt et al (2012) found that stability in IPV perpetration among their sample of men was greater within relationships (meaning those who remained with the same partner), than across relationships (those who changed partners).…”

“…This early work, with its reliance on married adult samples, focused primarily on the patterns of IPV within a given relationship (e.g., O’Leary et al 1989). Contemporary research on IPV, however, has broadened the focus to include variation in IPV across intimate relationships (Carbone-Lopez, Rennison, and MacMillan 2012; Shortt et al 2012; Whitaker, Le, and Niolon 2010). This shift reflects a growing interest in understanding not only whether IPV changes over time within a relationship, but also age-related patterns of IPV that transcend relationship continuity.…”

Dating Aggression in Emerging Adulthood: Interactions Between Relationship Processes and Individual Vulnerabilities

“…However, staying in the same relationship is associated with greater stability in levels of psychological and physical aggression compared with transitioning to a new relationship (Fritz & Slep, 2009;Shortt et al, 2012). Further, persistent aggression across relationships is associated with new partners' own aggressive behavior patterns (Shortt et al, 2012;Whitaker & Niolon, 2010). These findings suggest that the dynamics within a given relationship are an important source of information regarding individuals' risk for partner aggression perpetration.…”

“…On average, rates of partner aggression perpetration tend to decrease across adolescence and early adulthood (Fritz & O'Leary, 2004;Shortt et al, 2012;Whitaker & Niolon, 2010). However, staying in the same relationship is associated with greater stability in levels of psychological and physical aggression compared with transitioning to a new relationship (Fritz & Slep, 2009;Shortt et al, 2012).…”