Equivalent harm? The relative roles of maltreatment and exposure to intimate partner violence in antisocial outcomes for young adults

This study investigates whether child maltreatment and exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) have an equivalent effect on young adult violence and criminality, including adult relationship violence, and whether experiencing both types of family violence enhances the risk of adverse outcomes. The study utilizes data from the Rochester Youth Development Study (RYDS), a cohort study of the development of delinquency and other youth problems in a community sample of 1000 diverse urban youth, followed from age 14 to adulthood, to bolster our knowledge of these phenomena. Responses to well-validated measures come from a combination of interviews with parents and youth and from official records. Results generally indicate that maltreated children are more likely to demonstrate adult antisocial behavior than children exposed to IPV. Thus, our results indicate that both types of family violence are not equivalently harmful in the development of antisocial and violent behavior. In addition, the results indicate that experiencing both forms of family violence increases the risk of some antisocial outcomes in young adulthood compared to experiencing either one in isolation. Implications for research and services are considered.

► We include maltreatment and exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) together. ► We examine unique and combined effects of both types of family violence on crime. ► Maltreated youth are more likely to commit adult crime than youth exposed to IPV. ► Experiencing dual exposure increases the risk of adult violence and criminality.