NCJ Number
216194
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2006 Pages: 163-171
Date Published
February 2006
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study examined gender differences in the propensity to engage in domestic violence as an adult after experiencing family of origin violence.
Abstract
Results indicated that less than 3 percent of the participants reported no prior exposure to family of origin violence. Moreover, the influence of sexual assault and abuse on feelings in an adult relationship was significant and those who experienced sexual assault or abuse were also more likely to report using violence in self-defense. Physical abuse victimization was reported significantly more often by the female participants and was significantly related to generalized fear of one’s partner. The findings also indicated that those who used violence in their homes generally did not use violence outside of the home. The findings suggest that those who have been sexually abused may be hyper-vigilant in relationships and may use violence as a response to possible abuse. The findings have implications for domestic violence treatment interventions in terms of highlighting the importance of screening for and treating prior victimization experiences. Participants were 60 male and 54 female participants enrolled in 1 of the many Los Angeles County batterer intervention counseling programs. Participants completed a questionnaire that measured recent emotional, physical, and sexual abuse; abuse experienced in previous relationships; abuse witnessed in the family of origin; fear of partner; and experiences of childhood abuse. Limitations of the study are discussed and include its cross-sectional design and the inability to control for time in counseling. Future research should explore the value of concurrent individual counseling to address the adult outcomes of childhood abuse. Table, references