Persistence and Desistance of the Perpetration of Physical Aggression Across Relationships: Findings From a National Study of Adolescents

• NCJ Number: 237827
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 25 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2010 Pages: 591-609
• Author(s): Daniel J. Whitaker; Brenda Le; Phyllis Holditch Niolon
• Date Published: April 2010
• Length: 19 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the persistent perpetration of physical intimate partner violence (IPV) across relationships.

Abstract

Based on the National Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health, data were analyzed on 6,446 young adults, who reported on 2 recent relationships. Frequency and logistic regression analyses were used to examine the persistence of physical IPV perpetration across relationships and the predictors of persistent perpetration. Among individuals who perpetrated physical violence in their first relationship, 29.7 percent persisted in their perpetration in the second relationship and 70.3 percent desisted. Significant predictors of persistent physical IPV in the final multivariate model were as follows: IPV frequency in the first relationship, age, living together versus apart in the subsequent relationship, respondent being better educated than the partner, and being an IPV victim in second relationship. The persistence of physical IPV across relationships was relatively low, with desistance being much more common. Factors specific to the second relationship were the strongest predictors of persistence. (Published Abstract)