An Examination of the Dynamics of Intergenerational Transmission of Family Violence as Mediated by Affect Regulation Capacity

The current research examined the construct of intergenerational transmission of family violence (ITFV). The study focused specifically on the influence of adolescent exposure to physical interparental violence and child abuse (CA) victimization on young adult intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and victimization over several developmental stages. In addition to this direct relationship, the study also sought to examife the role of affect regulation capacity as a mediating mechanism of ITFV. A secondary data analysis was conducted with an ethnicity/race and socio-economic status diverse general population sample of 338 adolescents and their caregivers from the Project for Development in Chicago Neighborhoods Study. Measurement and structural equation models were examined to explore both the direct and mediated relationship of mid-adolescent physical family violence exposure and young adult physical IPV prospectively across three developmental stages. The study primarily focused on examining pathways to perpetration, but given the high rates of bidirectional IPV in young adult heterosexual couples, victimization variables were also included. A dose-response hypothesis of the direct effects of family violence exposure measured by frequency and severity was tested first. Then, a proxy variable for affect regulation capacity, comprised of three indicators (Syndrome Subscales of the Child Behavior Checklist: Anxious/depressed, Attention Problems, Aggressive Behavior), was examined as a mediator of the ITFV process, developmentally over time, and then as a contemporaneous predictor of young adult IPV. Finally, covariates commonly associated with family violence and affect regulation research were tested, including gender, a central factor in IPV research, practice, and policy. Contrary to prior research, exposure to family violence did not directly predict young adult IPV perpetration or victimization. However, increased contemporaneous Young Adult Affect Dysregulation significantly and substantially predicted increased Young Adult Minor and Severe Perpetration. Female Gender and Exposure to Community Violence also predicted increased Young Adult Minor and Severe IPV Perpetration and Victimization. The findings indicate that affect regulation capacity, particularly the Attention Problems subscale of the Child Behavior Checklist is an important predictor of IPV Minor and Severe Perpetration for females exposed to family violence in adolescence. Implications for social work research, practice and policy were discussed.