Patterns of Intimate Partner Violence in Mothers At-Risk for Child Maltreatment

• NCJ Number: 240422
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 27 Issue: 4 Dated: May 2012 Pages: 287-294
• Author(s): Megan H. Bair-Merritt; Sharon R. Ghazarian; Lori Burrell; Anne Duggan
• Date Published: May 2012
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study identified intimate partner violence (IPV) classes and determined how class membership changed over time amongst a sample of 217 mothers at-risk for child maltreatment that were enrolled in an early childhood home visitation evaluation study.

Abstract

Using three interviews spanning 3 years, the authors identified intimate partner violence (IPV) classes and determined how class membership changed over time amongst a sample of 217 mothers at-risk for child maltreatment that were enrolled in an early childhood home visitation evaluation study. Data on perpetration/victimization, IPV type (verbal, physical, and sexual abuse and injury) and severity were used to conduct latent class analyses at each time point. Latent transition analyses established the proportion of mothers who changed classes over time. A three-class solution (minimal, moderate, and high IPV) was indicated at each time point. All classes included mutual IPV. Partners used minor verbal abuse in the minimal class, minor and severe verbal abuse and minor physical abuse in the moderate class, and all IPV categories in the high class. At each transition, 40 percent or more women moved from minimal to moderate or high IPV. This movement emphasizes the need to screen women frequently and develop interventions recognizing the dynamic nature of IPV. Abstract published by arrangement with Springer.