The Impact of Minor Intimate Partner Aggression on Child Conduct

Abstract

<p>Research on the impact of intimate partner aggression (IPA) and child outcomes has primarily focused on the impact of severe forms of IPA and has tended to neglect the impact of minor forms of IPA on child behaviour. In addition, little is known about the impact that male IPA victimisation has on child outcomes. Thus, the current study aims to better understand the impact of minor IPA, risks and protective factors associated with it, while taking into consideration both mother-reported and partner-reported IPA. Using longitudinal, secondary data from the Growing Up in New Zealand study we used structural equation modelling to test our hypothesised models. Our study included n= 3801 children, their mothers, and the mothers’ partners. Results showed that minor IPA has an effect on child conduct problems and that maternal depression explains part of this relationship. Furthermore, we found that maternal warmth was a risk factor for increased conduct problems, but this was likely a factor of incongruent mother-child perceptions of maternal warmth. Additionally, we found that harsh discipline and child prosocial skills did not have a moderating effect, suggesting other factors may be of more importance in explaining the relationship between minor IPA and child conduct problems. Lastly, we found that for the most part, the impact of minor IPA on child conduct problems was the same across boys and girls. These findings mark the importance of early life experiences in children’s development by showing that even exposure to minor forms of IPA at an early developmental stage can have negative behavioural consequences later in development. These findings open new avenues for future research that will help inform potential interventions to minimise risks and promote resilience in children affected by all forms of IPA.</p>

How Diet Impacts the Relationship between Intimate Partner Aggression and Child Conduct Problems

“…However, Clavijo Saldias (2022) found different results from the current study when investigating the impacts of minor IPA and child CP using the GUiNZ study data. The results…”

“…Similarly, to the mother, the operationalisation of the child dietary patterns that were suggests that IPA has a stronger effect on child CP than diet can moderate. It is well established that IPA has a significant impact on child CP (Bowen, 2017;Clavijo Saldias, 2022;Evans et al, 2008;Fong et al, 2019;Gustafsson et al, 2014) which may also suggest why the current study finds that child diet was unable to buffer the effects of IPA on child behaviour.…”

“…However, due to the limited focus on minor IPA, there is a gap in the literature regarding the consequences and outcomes of minor IPA exposure, especially for children. Although there are numerous definitions and subsets of IPA in the literature, IPA is conceptualised as any form of aggression that is intended to harm, whether than be verbal, physical or sexual aggression, perpetrated by a current or former partner (Clavijo Saldias, 2022;Deen et al, 2021;Dixon & Graham-Kevan, 2011;World Health Organization, 2021). Specifically, minor IPA is typically characterised by less severe behaviour, such as slapping, pushing, or throwing an object (English et al, 2009;Straus & Gelles, 1986).…”

“…The exposure to IPA is considered a distinct form of child maltreatment, which has negative consequences both short and long term. Research by Clavijo Saldias (2022) investigated the relationship between minor IPA and CP which the current study is building on. Results from that study showed that mother and partner reports of IPA on child CP had similar outcomes, at different stages in development.…”

“…The environmental context, particularly intimate partner aggression (IPA) has been identified as one of the core factors contributing to the development and persistence of CP in children who are exposed to IPA (Bowen, 2017;Clavijo Saldias, 2022;Guo et al, 2017;McTavish et al, 2016). IPA can be described as any form of aggression, such as physical, sexual, or psychological aggression perpetrated by an individual toward a current or former partner (Clavijo Saldias, 2022;Dixon & Graham-Kevan, 2011;World Health Organization, 2021). The experience of IPA can occur regardless of gender, class, status, ethnicity, or culture.…”