Life Course and Intergenerational Continuity of Intimate Partner Aggression and Physical Injury: A 20-Year Study
Abstract
The objective of this study is to examine continuity of intimate partner aggression (IPA), which is defined as repeated annual involvement in IPA, across respondents' life course and into the next generation, where it may emerge among adult children. A national, longitudinal, and multigenerational sample of 1,401 individuals and their adult children is analyzed. Annual data on IPA severity and physical injury were collected by the National Youth Survey Family Study across a 20-year period from 1984 to 2004. Three hypotheses and biological sex differences are tested and effect sizes are estimated. First, findings reveal evidence for life course continuity (IPA is a strong predictor of subsequent IPA), but the overall trend decreases over time. Second, intergenerational continuity is documented (parents' IPA predicts adult children's IPA), but the effect is stronger for female than for male adult children. Third, results from combined and separate, more restrictive, measures of victimization and perpetration are nearly identical except in the intergenerational analyses. Fourth, evidence for continuity is not found when assessing physical injury alone. Together, these findings imply that some but not all forms of IPA are common, continuous, and intergenerational. Life course continuity appears stronger than intergenerational continuity.
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The intergenerational perpetration of IPV was much stronger among female adult children compared to males.
“However, the intergenerational perpetration of IPV was much stronger among female adult children compared to males (ibid).”
From Theoretical Analysis of the Cycle of Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review (2025) · cites this paper as Knight et al., 2016
Knights' et al. (2016) study following the interactional theory found statistically significant results on the association between exposure to IPV and IPV perpetration in the subsequent generation.
“In a similar vein, Knights’ et al. (2016) study following the interactional theory found statistically significant results on the association between exposure to IPV and IPV perpetration in the subsequent generation.”
From Theoretical Analysis of the Cycle of Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review (2025) · cites this paper as Knight et al., 2016
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References 71 · Cited by 20
- Authors
- Knight, K. E., Menard, S., Simmons, S. B., Bouffard, L. A., & Orsi, R.
- Affiliations
- Montana State University (US)
- Sam Houston State University (US)
- Colorado State University (US)
- Venue
- Violence and Victims
- Publisher
- Springer Publishing Company
- Published
- 2016
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 381-401
- ISSN
- 0886-6708 (ISSN-L)
- 1945-7073
- OpenAlex
- W2341186761
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 71
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 2.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Violence and Victims (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime Patterns and Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Keywords
- intimate partner aggression, intergenerational continuity, personal injury, intimate partner violence, perpetration, victimization, adult children, sex differences, domestic violence
- MeSH terms
- Intimate Partner Violence, Adult, Family Characteristics, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk Factors, United States, Intergenerational Relations, Crime Victims, Adult Survivors of Child Abuse, Young Adult
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