title: Adverse childhood experiences and intimate partner aggression in the US: sex differences and similarities in psychosocial mediation.
abstract: Six in ten people in the general population have been exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health problem in the US. The main objective of this study was to assess sex differences in the role of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, and depression as mediators in the association between ACEs and intimate partner aggression. Data were obtained from Wave 2 (2004-2005) of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Structural equation modeling was used to determine the mediational role of PTSD, substance abuse and depression in the association between ACE constructs (neglect, physical/psychological abuse, sexual abuse, parental violence, and parental incarceration/psychopathology) and intimate partner aggression. Among men, PTSD mediated the relationship between sexual abuse and intimate partner aggression. However, among men and women, substance abuse mediated the relationship between physical and psychological abuse and intimate partner aggression. IPV programs geared towards aggressors should address abuse (sexual, physical and psychological), which occurred during childhood and recent substance abuse and PTSD. These programs should be implemented for men and women. Programs aimed at preventing abuse of children may help to reduce rates of depression and PTSD in adulthood, and subsequent intimate partner aggression.
authors.affiliation: College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA. Electronic address: brownm3@usf.edu.
authors.forename: Monique J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Perera
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Division of Epidemiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Saba W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Masho
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Division of Epidemiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; Research Center for Group Dynamics, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Briana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mezuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Division of Epidemiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adverse childhood experiences; Depression; Intimate partner aggression; Mediation; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Structural equation modeling; Substance abuse