Background

Extensive research supports the existence of a “cycle of violence” that links exposure to parental violence during childhood (i.e., witnessing interparental violence and child maltreatment) with intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration. However, there is still a need to explore the mechanisms through which early exposure to parental violence may foster IPV perpetration during adulthood.

Objective

In this study, we examine the mediating role of attachment insecurities and gender differences in the relationship between exposure to parental violence during childhood and IPV perpetration during adulthood.

Method, participants, and setting

We conducted a cross-sectional survey among a representative sample of 604 married Arab adults (M age = 33.5, SD = 6.52; 50.1 % women) in Israel using a self-administered questionnaire.

Results

Exposure to physical violence, both as a victim and indirectly as a witness in childhood, was found positively correlated with adulthood IPV perpetration, with effect sizes ranging from weak (f ² = 0.01) to moderate (f ² = 0.15). Further, attachment-related avoidance was found to mediate the association between witnessing interparental physical violence and IPV perpetration. Gender differences were found in this relationship, with a stronger association indicated among male participants than among females.

Conclusion

Exposure to physical violence may be understood as a risk factor for IPV perpetration directly and indirectly through the development of attachment-related avoidance.

中文翻译：

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以色列成年阿拉伯人的童年经历父母暴力、依恋不安全感和亲密伴侣暴力行为

背景

广泛的研究支持存在一种“暴力循环”，该循环将儿童时期接触父母暴力（即目睹父母间暴力和儿童虐待）与亲密伴侣暴力 (IPV) 实施联系起来。然而，仍然需要探索早期接触父母暴力可能助长成年后 IPV 犯罪的机制。

客观的

在这项研究中，我们研究了依恋不安全感和性别差异在儿童时期遭受父母暴力与成年 IPV 犯罪之间关系中的中介作用。

方法、参与者和设置

 我们使用自填问卷对以色列604 名已婚阿拉伯成年人（ M年龄 = 33.5，SD = 6.52；女性占 50.1%）的代表性样本进行了横断面调查。

结果

研究发现，儿童时期作为受害者和间接目击者接触身体暴力与成年 IPV 犯罪呈正相关，影响大小从弱 ( f ²  = 0.01) 到中等 ( f ²  = 0.15)。此外，发现与依恋相关的回避可以调解目睹父母间身体暴力与 IPV 犯罪之间的关联。在这种关系中发现了性别差异，男性参与者比女性参与者之间的关联更强。

结论

通过发展与依恋相关的回避，暴露于身体暴力可以被理解为直接或间接地进行 IPV 犯罪的风险因素。