On the linkage between sexual violence victimization and intimate partner violence outcomes among male and female college students
| Published date | 09 October 2017 |
| Pages | 257-268 |
| Date | 09 October 2017 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-05-2017-0289 |
| Author | Caitlyn N. Meade,Wesley G. Jennings,Angela R. Gover,Tara N. Richards |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Aggression, conflict & peace,Sociology,Gender studies,Gender violence,Political sociology, policy & social change,Social conflicts,War/peace |
On the linkage between sexual violence
victimization and intimate partner violence
outcomes among male and female
college students
Caitlyn N. Meade, Wesley G. Jennings, Angela R. Gover and Tara N. Richards
Abstract
Purpose –A robust literature exists documenting the association between child maltreatment and later life
adverse outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between sexual abuse
victimization and later life intimate partner violence (IPV) outcomes among male and female college students,
which has been less frequently evaluated despite this wealth of evidence.
Design/methodology/approach –Relying on data from 4,162 male and female college students, the
current study provides a multivariate analysis of the linkage between sexual abuse victimization and intimate
partner victimization, perpetration, and being an IPV victim-offender.
Findings –Resultsreveal a statistically significantassociation betweensexual abuse victimizationand being an
IPV victim, offender,or victim-offender in youngadulthood. In addition, thesefindings are still observed oncea
host of risk and the demographic factors are incorporatedinto the model for females, but not for males.
Originality/value –This study highlights the importance of sexual violence and IPV prevention and
intervention strategies for college-aged youth.
Keywords Risk factors, Intimate partner violence, Sexual violence, Child maltreatment, Dating violence,
Victim-offender
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious problem across the USA, with Desmarais et al. (2012)
estimating that 23.1 percent of women and 19.3 percent of men experience IPV based on a
pooled synthesis of estimates from hundreds of studies and derived from USA and non-USA
samples. While all age groups have problematic IPV rates, of substantial concern is the
prevalence of IPV among college students. Studies have found prevalence rates of IPV among
college students ranging from 20 percent (Arias and Johnson, 1989; Makepeace, 1981, 1986;
Shook et al., 2000) to 50 percent (Bethke and DeJoy, 1993; Clark et al., 1994; Straus and
Ramirez, 2007). Research has reported that in half of students’relationships violence has
occurred at least once (Makepeace, 1981). Further, a notable portion (5-20 percent) of college
students perpetrate severe physical assaults against their partners, including behaviors such as
punching, kicking, choking, or attacking with a weapon (Arias et al., 1987; Makepeace, 1981;
Riggs and O’Leary, 1996; Straus, 2004; Straus et al., 1996).
Victims of IPV experience a wide range of both immediate and long-term consequences
(Flury et al., 2010). Research of IPV among youth and young adults has indicated that victims
experience risk of substance abuse (Temple and Freeman, 2011), suicide ideation, and
depression (Exner-Cortens et al., 2013). Overall, the literature on dating violence has shown that
survivors report poor mental and physical health (Basile et al., 2011), and that college students
Received 9 May 2017
Revised 19 June 2017
Accepted 28 June 2017
Caitlyn N. Meade is a Doctoral
Candidate at the University of
South Florida, Tampa, Florida,
USA.
Wesley G. Jennings is a
Professor at Texas State
University, San Marcos, Texas,
USA.
Angela R. Gover is a Professor
at the University of Colorado
Denver, Denver, Colorado,
USA.
Tara N. Richards is an
Associate Professor at the
University of Baltimore,
Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
DOI 10.1108/JACPR-05-2017-0289 VOL. 9 NO. 4 2017, pp.257-268, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1759-6599
j
JOURNAL OF AGGRESSION, CONFLICTAND PEACE RESEARCH
j
PAGE257
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