October 2007 - Research based on data from more than 9300 participants in the National
Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that
victims of violence in childhood are more likely to continue the pattern in adulthood, either as victims or
perpetrators and investigates how experiences early in life are related to subsequent behavior.
During Wave I of the study from 1994-1995 participants were asked about their experience as
perpetrator and/or victim of youth violence (defined as fighting, hurting someone badly enough to need care,
threatening or using a weapon, and shooting or stabbing). During Wave III (2001-2002) they were asked about
intimate partner violence (defined as threatening violence; pushing, shoving, or throwing something; slapping,
hitting, or kicking; or non-consensual sex) in young adult sexual relationships and whether they had suffered
physical or sexual abuse and neglect as a child. The study included respondents who reported at least one sexual
relationship in the preceding two years. Demographic and environmental variables including parent education,
employment status, school enrolment, and local crime statistics were also factored in.
Dr Xiangming Fang (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Atlanta) and Dr Phaedra S.
Corso (Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Georgia) found that depending on the type of
child maltreatment experienced, victims were more likely to perpetrate youth violence (up to 6.6 per cent of
females and 11.9 per cent of males) and young adult intimate partner violence (up to 10.4 per cent of females and
17.2 per cent of males). They identified gender differences in the interrelationship. For example, the association
between intimate partner violence perpetration and physical abuse and neglect in childhood was stronger in females.
The association between child sexual abuse and future intimate partner violence perpetration was significant for males
but not for females. The study also found gender differences in the effects of socioeconomic factors.
Researchers found that victims of child maltreatment were more likely to perpetrate youth and
intimate partner violence; there was less association with future victimization. The researchers comment that these
findings reinforce the common perception that prevention of child maltreatment may be crucial to preventing future
perpetration of youth violence and similarly interventions targeting youth violence may help prevent intimate partner
violence.
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