Exposure to family violence from childhood to adulthood

BMC Public Health

Andrea Gonzalez¹  Harriet MacMillan²  Margot Shields³  Wendy E. Hovdestad³  Lil Tonmyr³ 

[1] Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West - MIP 201A, L8S 4K1, Hamilton, ON, Canada;Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West - MIP 201A, L8S 4K1, Hamilton, ON, Canada;Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, and of Pediatrics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West - MIP 201A, L8S 4K1, Hamilton, ON, Canada;Public Health Agency of Canada, 785 Carling Ave. 7th floor, K1A 0K9, Ottawa, ON, Canada;

关键词: Intimate partner violence;    Physical abuse;    Sexual abuse;    Childhood exposure to intimate partner violence;    Domestic violence;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-020-09709-y

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundBoth childhood maltreatment (CM) and intimate partner violence (IPV) are public health problems that have been related to a wide range of adverse health consequences. However, studies examining associations between specific types of CM and experiencing IPV in adulthood have yielded conflicting results.MethodsUsing data from 10,608 men and 11,458 women aged 18 or older from Canada’s 2014 General Social Survey, we examined associations between three types of CM—childhood physical abuse (CPA), childhood sexual abuse (CSA), and childhood exposure to IPV —and subsequent intimate partner violence (IPV) in adulthood (physical, sexual or emotional).ResultsWhen potential confounders were controlled, CPA, CSA and childhood exposure to IPV were associated with IPV in adulthood for both sexes (odds ratios, 1.7, 1.8 and 2.0 for men, and 2.2, 2.0 and 2.1 for women). When severity and frequency of CM were examined, a dose-response relationship between all three types of CM and IPV in adulthood was observed among women (meaning that as the severity/frequency of CM increased, the likelihood of reporting IPV also increased); among men, a dose-response relationship was observed only for CPA.ConclusionsThe association between CM and IPV in adulthood is particularly concerning because experiencing multiple forms of trauma has cumulative effects. Lifespan studies have shown that individuals who experience multiple incidents of abuse exhibit the highest levels of impairment. This underscores the importance of programs to eradicate both CM and IPV. This underscores the importance of programs to eradicate both CM and IPV. Future research should focus on assessing interventions designed to promote healthy relationships and the provision of emotional support and coping mechanisms to children and families in abusive situations.

【 授权许可】

CC BY