Childhood family violence and perpetration and victimization of intimate partner violence: findings from a national population-based study of couples.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to examine the relation between childhood family violence and intimate partner violence (IPV).


METHODS
We surveyed 1615 couples from the U.S. household population by using multistage cluster sampling. Childhood family violence measures included moderate and severe child physical abuse and witnessing interparental threats or physical violence. IPV was categorized as nonreciprocal male-to-female partner violence (MFPV), nonreciprocal female-to-male partner violence (FMPV), reciprocal IPV (MFPV and FMPV), and no IPV. We used multinomial logistic regression to estimate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between childhood family violence and IPV.


RESULTS
Men who experienced moderate (adjusted OR [AOR] 3.9, 95% CI, 1.3-11.8) or severe (AOR 4.5, 95% CI: 1.1-19.3) child physical abuse were at increased risk of nonreciprocal MFPV; a male history of severe childhood physical abuse or witnessing interparental violence was associated with a twofold increased risk of reciprocal IPV. Women who witnessed interparental threats of violence (AOR 1.9, 95% CI, 0.8-4.6) or interparental physical violence (AOR 3.4, 95% CI, 1.5-7.9) in childhood were at increased risk of nonreciprocal FMPV. Women exposed to any type of childhood family violence were more than 1.5 times as likely to engage in reciprocal IPV. Many strong positive ORs had CIs compatible with no association.


CONCLUSIONS
We provide new evidence that childhood family violence is associated with an increased risk of nonreciprocal and reciprocal IPV. Treatment providers and policy makers should consider childhood family violence history in both men and women in the context of IPV.
University of Texas Houston School of Public Health, Dallas, TX 75390-9128, USA. christy.mckinney@utsouthwestern.edu
Christy M
CM
McKinney
Raul
R
Caetano
Suhasini
S
Ramisetty-Mikler
Scott
S
Nelson
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018454:Spouses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult