Session: Toward an Understanding of Intimate Partner Violence from Adolescence to Adulthood (Society for Prevention Research 22nd Annual Meeting)

Intimate partner violence is a serious, but preventable problem that affects millions of teens and adults each year.  Research suggests that being a victim of teen dating violence is associated with later victimization and perpetration as an adult (Exner-Cortens, Eckenrode, & Rothman, 2013).  Given the well documented harsh consequences of IPV victimization and perpetration, including mortality and psychological health problems, more research is needed to understand the relationship between being dually a perpetrator and victim of partner violence while also offering strategies that can be used to prevent further violence in these contexts. The goal of this symposium is to present a series of studies which applies a life course approach to the study of intimate partner violence, spanning from adolescence to adulthood.  A common theme across the papers is the focus on both victimization and perpetration of intimate partner violence.

The first paper is a longitudinal study of the association between violence directed toward peers and verbal and physical teen dating violence perpetration among high school students.  Regression analyses with data collected from students at three high schools (N = 1947) were surveyed at two time points were used to determine the correlates and risk factors of teen dating violence perpetration.

The second paper examines women’s responses to intimate partner violence.  Interviews were conducted with 197 women to better understand the factors which influenced their use of specific safety strategies.  Using latent class analysis, women were grouped into five classes based on their use of safety strategies which were then used to examine the association between safety strategy class and problem drinking.

The third paper will identify individual and relationship characteristics associated with women initiated physical violence among victimized women of African descent.  Women (N = 435) reporting a history of intimate partner violence completed a cross-sectional survey to assess their infidelity and relationship violence experiences. Findings support changes to policy which takes into consideration the context of violent events between partners. 

At the conclusion of the presentations, the discussant will identify common themes and discuss strategies that can be used to prevent intimate partner violence. Additional suggestions for improving both policy and interventions for teens and adults will be identified.  Such efforts will require an ecological perspective and partnership with multiple stakeholders (i.e. scientists, policy makers, and practitioners).