Maternal Childhood Parental Abuse History and Current Intimate Partner Violence: Data From the Pacific Islands Families Study

• NCJ Number: 220025
• Journal: Violence and Victims Volume: 22 Issue: 4 Dated: 2007 Pages: 474-488
• Author(s): Janis Paterson Ph.D.; Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop Ph.D.; Esther Tumama Cowley-Malcolm M.A.; Philip J. Schluter Ph.D.
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 15 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: New Zealand Health Research Council; Maurice & Phyllis Paykel Trust; Foundation for Research Science & Technology (FRST)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article describes the association between maternal childhood history and current severe intimate partner violence victimization in a group of Pacific women.

Abstract

Study findings revealed that paternal physical abuse was the only statistically significant risk factor from childhood parenting history that was associated with current victimization within the mother’s intimate partner relationship. Pacific cohort mothers were 2.2 times more likely to report being perpetrators than victims of severe physical partner violence. Paternal physical abuse remained an independent risk factor for current severe physical intimate partner violence (IPV). Results also revealed from the PIF study that in women, father-to child violence resulted in increased perpetration in the current relationship (Heyman and Slep, 2002). Data were collected as part of the Pacific Islands Families: First 2 Years of Life (PIF) study. The PIF study is a longitudinal investigation of a group of 1,398 infants born at Middlemore Hospital, South Auckland, during 2000 and their mothers and fathers. Six weeks after the birth of their child interviewers obtained consent for mothers to participate in a 1-hour interview concerning the health and development of the child and family functioning. The 1-hour assessment focused on material health (e.g., postnatal depression and contraceptive practices) and lifestyle (e.g., family nutrition, smoking, alcohol/drug use, and gambling), child care and practices and beliefs (e.g., feeding, awareness of SIDS, and involvement of nonmaternal caregivers), and maternal/nurse observation of infant wellbeing (e.g., illnesses, growth, and immunization). The measurement of maternal childhood history was based on the Exposure to Abusive and Supportive Environments Parenting Inventory (EASE-PI; Nicholas & Bieber, 1997). IPV was measured using Form R of the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS; Strauss, 1974, 1979, 1990b). Tables, references