Testing the Indirect Effects of Sense of Control & Perceived Stress in the Relationship between Child Abuse History & Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration in Adulthood.

PURPOSE: The cycle of violence supports history of child abuse (CA) as a risk factor for intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration. What is less clear is why this pathway takes place and how factors, such as sense of control and perceived stress, help explain these mechanisms. Grounded in principles of self-determination theory (SDT) and the stress sensitization model (SSM), the present study aimed to investigate the roles of sense of control and perceived stress in the relationship between general and type-specific CA (emotional, physical, and sexual abuse) history and IPV perpetration.

METHODS: All data came from Wave 4 of the National Longitudinal Study for Adolescent to Adult Health. The study sample included 13,153 adults ages 24-32 years old. The PROCESS SPSS macro was used to test the direct and indirect effects of CA on IPV perpetration.

RESULTS: The results showed that general and type-specific CA were associated with increased perceived stress, which in turn was associated with increased IPV perpetration. Sense of control was also a significant intervening variable for all forms of CA. General CA, emotional abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse were associated with lower sense of control, which in turn was associated with higher IPV perpetration.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides further support for the cycle of violence hypothesis. Interventions targeting CA prevention may potentially be strengthened by incorporating components of SDT and SSM. Longitudinal research in this area will be useful in driving future intervention efforts and modifications.