Intergenerational transmission of partner violence: A 20-year prospective study.

TLDR

A 20‑year prospective study of 543 children examined how parenting, inter‑parental domestic violence, maltreatment, adolescent disruptive behavior, and adult substance abuse independently predict partner violence. Conduct disorder was the strongest predictor of perpetrating partner violence, with inter‑parental domestic violence and power‑assertive punishment also significant; inter‑parental domestic violence posed the greatest risk of victimization, while child abuse and adolescent conduct disorder independently increased injury risk, and substance abuse mediated the link between conduct disorder and partner injury but not victimization, underscoring prevention priorities.

Abstract

An unselected sample of 543 children was followed over 20 years to test the independent effects of parenting, exposure to domestic violence between parents (ETDV), maltreatment, adolescent disruptive behavior disorders, and emerging adult substance abuse disorders (SUDs) on the risk of violence to and from an adult partner. Conduct disorder (CD) was the strongest risk for perpetrating partner violence for both sexes, followed by ETDV, and power assertive punishment. The effect of child abuse was attributable to these 3 risks. ETDV conferred the greatest risk of receiving partner violence; CD increased the odds of receiving partner violence but did not mediate this effect. Child physical abuse and CD in adolescence were strong independent risks for injury to a partner. SUD mediated the effect of adolescent CD on injury to a partner but not on injury by a partner. Prevention implications are highlighted.