Relation of intimate partner violence to salivary cortisol among couples expecting a first child

Abstract

Despite advances in understanding the role that several physiological systems play in the occurrence of general violence, little progress has been made toward understanding biological correlates of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). We explored involvement of one physiological system, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Among 137 heterosexual couples expecting a first child, baseline level of HPA activity -- assessed via salivary cortisol collected before a couple conflict discussion -- was linked to both men’s and women’s violence perpetration. HPA reactivity to the conflict bout did not show an independent association with IPV. However, persisting elevation in men’s, and down-regulation in women’s, HPA activity during a further recovery period was linked to men’s violence perpetration.

Intimate partner violence and diurnal cortisol patterns in couples

“…As such, we cannot rule out the possibility that HPA axis activity influenced the involvement of physical victimization in couples. As suggested by Feinberg et al (2011) and others (e.g., Shoal et al, 2003; Shirtcliff et al, 2005), individuals with dysregulated diurnal patterns of cortisol (i.e., flatter diurnal patterns) may be more likely to use physical violence against their partners in conflictual situations (Romero- Martínez et al, 2013; Romero- Martínez et al, 2014). Alternatively, it is possible that the association between IPV involvement and HPA axis activity is bidirectional, leading to reciprocity between the two processes (Granger et al, 1996).…”

“…Although there has been a great deal of interest in the association between aggression and dysregulated HPA axis activity in children (e.g., Fisher et al, 2007; Bruce et al, 2009), relatively little is known about physiological processes through which IPV exerts its deleterious effects on one's health (Feinberg et al, 2011). Given the high prevalence of IPV among couples and subsequent adjustment problems (Kim et al, 2008), the lack of research on this issue is especially of concern (Feinberg et al, 2011).…”

“…Given the high prevalence of IPV among couples and subsequent adjustment problems (Kim et al, 2008), the lack of research on this issue is especially of concern (Feinberg et al, 2011). The present study sought to address this issue by examining the extent to which physical IPV victimization was associated with diurnal cortisol patterns in a community sample of couples in their 30s from predominantly lower SES backgrounds.…”

“…Growing evidence suggests that the quality of the romantic relationship may influence individuals’ health outcomes through physiological processes including cardiovascular, endocrine, and immune functioning (Robles and Kiecolt-Glaser, 2003). From this perspective, one pathway that links IPV with negative health outcomes may be via the impact of IPV victimization on dysregulation of stress-linked endocrine processes (Repetti et al, 2002), more specifically, alterations in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity (Feinberg et al, 2011). Increasing the understanding of the direct associations between IPV and HPA axis activity may help explain individual differences in vulnerabilities to IPV-related health problems, which would facilitate the development of more effective treatment programs (Inslicht et al, 2006).…”

Cortisol reactions during family conflict discussions: Influences of wives’ and husbands’ exposure to family-of-origin aggression.

“…The present findings further qualify men’s reactivity as a function of the combination of both past and present experiences as well as their wives’ past experiences. For women, whereas FOA alone was associated with heightened cortisol, FOA in combination with husbands’ hostility shows a pattern of down-regulation, a pattern that others have interpreted as possibly related to disengagement from the discussion (Feinberg, Jones, Granger, & Bontempo, 2011). Perhaps for women with greater reactivity to FOA overall, the additional dimension of the husbands’ hostility is the tipping point to more chronic, negative feedback mechanisms in the HPA axis.…”