Citation

White HR, Widom CS. Aggressive Behav. 2003; 29(4): 332-345.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, International Society for Research on Aggression, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ab.10074

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study examined whether male and female abused and neglected children report higher levels of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration in young adulthood than a matched control group. We also examined whether this association was mediated by early aggressive behavior, adult antisocial personality disorder, hostility, and problem drinking for men and women. The sample consisted of individuals who had official records of child abuse and/or neglect prior to age 12 and matched controls who were followed up and interviewed at approximately age 29 years. Individuals who had ever been married or lived with someone (N=961) reported on lifetime perpetration of IPV. For the total sample, abused and neglected children reported significantly higher rates of ever hitting or throwing things at a partner, ever hitting or throwing first, and ever hitting or throwing first more than once. Both male and female abused and neglected children reported significantly higher rates of ever hitting or throwing things at a partner than matched controls. Antisocial personality disorder mediated the effects of abuse/neglect on IPV for men and women and hostility and alcohol problems also mediated the effects for abused and neglected women. Early aggressive behavior was not a significant mediator for either gender. Overall the results reveal a link between early childhood victimization and later perpetration of violence against partners for both men and women. Further research on the mechanisms is necessary before firm conclusions may be drawn. Aggr. Behav. 29:332–345, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.