Fathers, mothers and family violence: Which risk factors contribute to the occurrence of child maltreatment and exposure to intimate partner violence in early childhood? Findings in a German longitudinal in-depth study

Assessment that accurately categorizes families’ risk for family violence (i.e., intimate partner violence and child maltreatment) and identifies areas of family need is essential for prevention program planning, practice, and resource allocation. The Family Needs Screener (FNS) assesses risk for intimate partner violence and child maltreatment. It is used as a tool to prioritize those who are in the greatest need of services as well as plan prevention efforts in selected prevention services offered to military families. To date, no peer-reviewed studies examine the factor structure of the FNS. In this study, we examined measurement aspects of the FNS as an assessment tool in identifying risk of family violence. Data were drawn from Army families ( N = 18,159) who were screened between 2009 and 2013 and matched to substantiated cases of family violence. Exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) was used to examine the factor structure, measurement invariance, and predictive validity of the FNS. Results supported a shortened measure with a five-factor structure and full gender invariance. In particular, relationship issues were predictive of both intimate partner violence and child maltreatment. In addition, family of origin/history of family violence was predictive of substantiated cases of child maltreatment. Findings support the use of the FNS to assess risk, allocate, and plan for services in an Army population. Implications for scale modifications and use, as well as prevention efforts, are discussed.

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Risk factors for child abuse, neglect and exposure to intimate partner violence in early childhood: Findings in a representative cross-sectional sample in Germany

Child Abuse & Neglect ◽

10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104487 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 106 ◽

pp. 104487

Author(s):

Christoph Liel ◽

Susanne M. Ulrich ◽

Simon Lorenz ◽

Andreas Eickhorst ◽

John Fluke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Early Childhood ◽

Child Abuse ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Cross Sectional

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Unique Risk Factors of the Co-Occurrence Between Child Maltreatment and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration

European Psychologist ◽

10.1027/1016-9040/a000396 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 122-133

Author(s):

Jelle J. Sijtsema ◽

Elena A. Stolz ◽

Stefan Bogaerts

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Domestic Violence ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Child Maltreatment ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Well Being ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration ◽

Other World ◽

The Individual

Abstract. Recent studies found that there is considerable overlap between perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) and child maltreatment (CM), suggesting that both types of domestic violence can co-occur. However, there is a lack of consistency about the prevalence of co-occurrence, what unique risk factors and outcomes of co-occurrence are, and whether co-occurrence differs between Europe and other world regions. The aim is thus to review existing evidence and provide a framework for the study of IPV and CM co-occurrence by identifying unique risk factors and outcomes. In total, 12 European studies were identified that examined risk factors of co-occurrence between IPV and CM. Risk factors were distinguished at the individual, dyadic, and broader contextual levels, and compared between Europe and other regions of the world. Despite significant variation between studies, several general patterns were discerned, both globally and region-specific. These insights were used to develop a framework for the explanation of IPV and CM co-occurrence, which has implications for prevention and treatment. Importantly, more awareness and early signaling of risk for co-occurrence may counteract the spill-over from one type of domestic violence into the other to the benefit of children’s safety and well-being.

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The Co-Occurrence of Child Maltreatment and Intimate Partner Violence in Families: Effects on Children’s Externalizing Behavior Problems

Child Maltreatment ◽

10.1177/1077559520985934 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 107755952098593

Author(s):

Samantha M. Brown ◽

Galena K. Rhoades ◽

C. Nathan Marti ◽

Terri Lewis

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Early Childhood ◽

Family Violence ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Regression Models ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

Externalizing Behaviors ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Child Physical Abuse ◽

Psychological Aggression

Children exposed to maltreatment are at risk of experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) and behavioral problems. This study examined different forms of family violence that co-occur and their relationship to children’s externalizing behaviors across developmental stages (early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence). Longitudinal data ( N = 1,987) at baseline and 18 months and 36 months post-baseline from the NSCAW II were used. Mixture modeling was employed in which latent class models estimated subgroups of children who experienced co-occurring forms of family violence; regression models estimated which subgroups of children were at risk of externalizing behaviors. Three latent classes were identified across developmental stages: high family violence, low family violence, and child physical abuse and psychological aggression. For children in early childhood, a fourth class was identified: partner and child physical abuse and child psychological aggression. Results from regression models revealed differences in externalizing scores by class membership across developmental age groups and over time. That distinct classes of child maltreatment and IPV co-occur and differentially impact children’s behavior suggests a need for strong prevention and intervention responses to address children’s dual maltreatment and IPV exposure.

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Early Childhood Victimization and Physical Intimate Partner Violence During Pregnancy: A Developmental and Person-Oriented Approach

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260516639261 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 3-26 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Angela J. Narayan ◽

Melissa J. Hagan ◽

Emily Cohodes ◽

Luisa M. Rivera ◽

Alicia F. Lieberman

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Substance Use ◽

Early Childhood ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Health Concern ◽

Childhood Victimization ◽

Target Child ◽

Prenatal Substance Use

Intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization during pregnancy is a major public health concern, yet little is known about how risk factors for IPV during pregnancy may depend on whether women have histories of victimization dating back to early childhood (ages 0-5 years). This study examined whether risk factors for physical IPV victimization during pregnancy (a pregnancy that was not planned and prenatal substance use) differed for women with versus without early childhood victimization. Participants were 236 ethnically diverse, low-income biological mothers ( M = 30.94 years; 50.0% Latina, 16.9% Caucasian, 13.1% African American, and 16.9% multiracial) of children aged 0 to 6 years. Mothers were classified into four groups based on whether they had experienced early childhood victimization and physical IPV victimization during pregnancy with the target child. Multinomial logistic regressions, controlling for demographic characteristics, examined whether a pregnancy not planned and prenatal substance use predicted group membership. Compared to mothers with early victimization only, mothers with both early childhood victimization and physical IPV during pregnancy were more than 3 times as likely to report that their pregnancy with the target child was not planned. In follow-up analyses, mothers with early victimization and physical IPV during pregnancy also reported higher lifetime parity than mothers with physical IPV during pregnancy but no early victimization. Early childhood victimization may place women on a risk pathway to physical IPV during pregnancy, particularly if the pregnancy is not planned. Prevention and policy efforts should screen women for early childhood victimization to understand risks for physical IPV during pregnancy.

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Intimate partner violence against women and child maltreatment in a Brazilian birth cohort study: co-occurrence and shared risk factors

BMJ Global Health ◽

10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004306 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. e004306

Author(s):

Romina Buffarini ◽

Carolina V N Coll ◽

Terrie Moffitt ◽

Mariangela Freias da Silveira ◽

Fernando Barros ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Child Maltreatment ◽

Birth Cohort ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Urban Setting ◽

Birth Cohort Study ◽

Biological Father ◽

Shared Risk

BackgroundIntimate partner violence (IPV) against women and child maltreatment (CM) are major public health problems and human rights issues and may have shared causes. However, their overlap is understudied. We investigated the prevalence of IPV and CM, their co-occurrence in households and possible shared risk factors, in the general population of a Brazilian urban setting.MethodsProspective population-based birth cohort, including over 3500 mother–child dyads with maternal reports on both IPV and CM when children were 4 years old. Eleven neighbourhood, family and parental risk factors were measured between birth and age 4 years. Bivariate and multivariate Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to test which potential risk factors were associated with IPV, CM and their co-occurrence.ResultsThe prevalence of any IPV and CM were 22.8% and 10.9%, respectively; the co-occurrence of both types of violence was 5%. Multivariate analyses showed that the overlap of IPV and CM was strongly associated with neighbourhood violence, absence of the child’s biological father, paternal antisocial behaviour in general and a mother–partner relationship characterised by high levels of criticism, maternal depression and younger maternal age. A concentration of many risk factors among 10% of the population was associated with a sixfold increase in risk for overlapping IPV and CM compared with households with no risk factors.ConclusionIPV and CM share important risk factors in the family and neighbourhood environments and are particularly common in households with multiple social disadvantages and family difficulties. Integrated preventive interventions are needed.

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