Pregnant Adolescents As Perpetrators and Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

• Published in: Journal of interpersonal violence Vol. 35; no. 13-14; pp. 2492 - 2510
• Main Authors: Buzi, Ruth S., Smith, Peggy B., Kozinetz, Claudia A., Wiemann, Constance M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.07.2020; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adolescents; Aggression; Aggressiveness; Assaults; Childrearing practices; Children; Corporal punishment; Couples; Domestic violence; Drug abuse; Drug Use; Family Violence; Health behavior; Injuries; Intimate partner violence; Parent attitudes; Pregnancy; Punishment; Risk factors; Teenage pregnancy; Teenagers; Victims; Violence; Youth; domestic violence; violence exposure; mental health and violence; dating violence
• ISSN: 0886-2605; 1552-6518
• DOI: 10.1177/0886260517704228

The role of pregnant adolescents as perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) is not well understood. Socioecological factors associated with IPV (physical assault and injury, and psychological aggression) perpetrated by pregnant adolescents and the association between IPV and attitudes toward the use of physical punishment to discipline children were examined among 246 pregnant adolescents. Pregnant adolescents were more likely to report perpetrating both physical assault (24%) and psychological aggression (52.7%) than being the recipient (12.2% and 38.6%, respectively) and having been physically injured (7%) than inflicting injury (4.1%). Risk factors for perpetrating physical assault included prior assault by partner, being African American, exposure to community violence, being in trouble with the police, and multiple lifetime drug use. IPV perpetrators had more favorable attitudes toward the use of physical punishment. Interventions should address IPV and parenting attitudes in young couples to maximize the health and safety of both mother and unborn child.