Assessing the co-occurrence of intimate partner violence domains across the life-course: relating typologies to mental health

Abstract

BackgroundThe inter-generational transmission of violence (ITV) hypothesis and polyvictimisation have been studied extensively. The extant evidence suggests that individuals from violent families are at increased risk of subsequent intimate partner violence (IPV) and that a proportion of individuals experience victimisation across multiple rather than single IPV domains. Both ITV and polyvictimisation are shown to increase the risk of psychiatric morbidity, alcohol use, and anger expression.ObjectiveThe current study aimed to 1) ascertain if underlying typologies of victimisation across the life-course and over multiple victimisation domains were present and 2) ascertain if groupings differed on mean scores of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, alcohol use, and anger expression.MethodUniversity students (N=318) were queried in relation to victimisation experiences and psychological well-being. Responses across multiple domains of IPV spanning the life-course were used in a latent profile analysis. ANOVA was subsequently used to determine if profiles differed in their mean scores on PTSD, depression, alcohol use, and anger expression.ResultsThree distinct profiles were identified; one of which comprised individuals who experienced “life-course polyvictimisation,” another showing individuals who experienced “witnessing parental victimisation,” and one which experienced “psychological victimisation only.” Life-course polyvictims scored the highest across most assessed measures.ConclusionWitnessing severe physical aggression and injury in parental relationships as a child has an interesting impact on the ITV into adolescence and adulthood. Life-course polyvictims are shown to experience increased levels of psychiatric morbidity and issues with alcohol misuse and anger expression.

Empirically derived lifespan polytraumatization typologies: A systematic review

“…Seven studies included participants from the United States, one study included participants from Ireland (Armour & Sleath, ), and one study included participants from Australia (McCutcheon et al., ). Most studies had female‐only samples (Cavanaugh, Martins, Petras, & Campbell, ; Cavanaugh et al., ; Golder, Connell, & Sullivan, ; Walsh, Senn, & Carey, ; Young‐Wolff et al., ), or mostly female participants (Armour & Sleath, ; Holt et al., ). One study included only males (Burns, Lagdon, Boyda, & Armour, ), and one study had a relatively balanced gender distribution, and was distinct in that it was conducted with twins (McCutcheon et al., ).…”

“…Five studies found a best‐fitting three‐class solution and four studies found a best‐fitting four‐class solution. Seven studies found a class characterized by a higher likelihood of endorsement of most/all assessed traumas relative to other classes (“ high‐trauma class ”; Armour & Sleath, ; Burns et al., ; Cavanaugh et al., ; Golder et al., ; Holt et al., ; Walsh et al., ; Young‐Wolff et al., ). Further, all studies found a latent class with lower endorsement of most/all assessed traumas relative to other classes (“ low‐trauma class” ).…”

“…As an example, the high‐trauma class had a higher likelihood of meeting criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), mania, panic disorder (Burns et al., ; Cavanaugh et al., ), depression (Burns et al., ; Cavanaugh et al., ; Young‐Wolff et al., ), and PTSD (Burns et al., ; Cavanaugh et al., ; Golder et al., ; Young‐Wolff et al., ). Additionally, the high‐trauma class was associated with greater PTSD and depression severity (Armour & Sleath, ; Golder et al., ), anger expression (Armour & Sleath, ), alcohol use (Armour & Sleath, ; Young‐Wolff et al., ), illicit drug use (Golder et al., ; Young‐Wolff et al., ), and self‐harm (Golder et al., ). Further, the high‐trauma class had greater maladaptive sexual lifestyle indicators (Walsh et al., ).…”

Patterns of Dating Violence Victimization and Perpetration among Latino Youth

“…These associations were examined based on research suggesting that individuals who experience and/or enact multiple types of violence may experience more severe mental health consequences than those who are involved in only one type of violence (Finkelhor 2007; Armour and Sleath 2014; Haynie et al 2013; Sabina and Straus 2008). For example, Haynie et al (2013) found that multiform aggressive victims reported higher levels of concurrent depressive symptoms and psychological complaints than did verbal aggressive victims.…”

TANF Participation and Intimate Partner Violence: Exploring Barriers to Self-Sufficiency

“…Exposure to IPV in childhood has been shown to increase the likelihood of becoming a perpetrator of IPV, a victim of IPV, or both during early adulthood (Smith et al, 2011). Additionally, children who witness IPV are more likely to have increased instances of psychiatric disorders, alcohol abuse, and issues with anger expression in adulthood (Armour & Sleath, 2014). Similarly, research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) investigates complex intersections of the effects of poverty, violence, and oppression in childhood on adult health (Cronholm et al, 2015).…”