Association between Child Maltreatment and Intimate Partner Violence: Moderating Effects of Gender, Age, and Household Income Level

Abstract

Purpose This study examines the association between child maltreatment and the perpetration and victimization of intimate partner violence (IPV) in adulthood, exploring the moderating effects of gender, age, and household income level. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed secondary data from the 2016 Domestic Violence Survey in South Korea, including 1,765 married individuals aged 65 or younger who responded to key variables. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze associations among the variables. Results The paths from child maltreatment to IPV perpetration (β=.22, p<.001) and victimization (β=.22, p<.001) were statistically significant. Gender, age, and household income level significantly moderated this relationship. Women under 40 were more likely to be IPV victims than perpetrators. Low-income level increased the likelihood of being both perpetrators and victims. Women under 40 who had experienced child maltreatment and had a low-income level showed different probabilities of being victims or perpetrators of IPV. Conclusion Our findings highlight the need to mitigate the negative impact of child maltreatment in adulthood by designing specific interventions for vulnerable groups, such as women, younger individuals, and those with low-income levels. Ensuring lifelong prevention of child maltreatment and establishing tailored programs for IPV is crucial.