Intergenerational Transmission of Family Violence: A Narrative Review of Pathways from Childhood Exposure to Family Violence to Adult Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration.

purposeA substantial body of research indicates that exposure to violence during childhood is linked to long-term harmful effects. More specifically, child abuse and exposure to parental intimate partner violence (IPV) may increase the likelihood of IPV perpetration in adulthood. This narrative review integrates theoretical and empirical perspectives to provide a comprehensive understanding of the intergenerational transmission of family violence, while identifying gaps in the literature and suggesting directions for future research.

methodsRelevant peer-reviewed empirical studies were identified through major academic databases and reference searches, with a focus on research addressing pathways from childhood exposure to family violence (CEFV) to adult IPV perpetration. The review synthesizes empirical findings to consolidate current knowledge and identify areas for further investigation.

findingsExisting studies have extensively examined associations between CEFV and adult IPV perpetration based on various theoretical frameworks, such as social learning theory, emotional regulation perspective, and the adverse childhood experiences framework. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives underscore that intergenerational transmission of family violence is shaped by behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and contextual factors. However, most studies have focused predominantly on individual and familial characteristics, with limited attention to community or broader socioecological influences. Furthermore, most of the studies have primarily been grounded in the victim-perpetrator binary framework, which treats IPV perpetration and victimization as distinct phenomena. Multidimensional aspects of violence and abuse, such as duration, severity, context, and frequency, also remain underexplored.

conclusionsThis review underscores the need to (1) examine the roles of socioecological factors in the intergenerational transmission of family violence, (2) shift the paradigm beyond the gendered victim-offender binary, (3) account for the multifaceted nature of violence and abuse, and (4) utilize diverse methodological approaches to advance the field.