Predicting Intimate Partner Violence for At-Risk Young Adults and Their Romantic Partners.

The purpose of this research project is to advance the understanding of predictors of IPV through the utilization of a data set that combines exceptionally strong dynamic developmental and dyadic theory with multiagent/method longitudinal assessment of family, peer, youth adjustment factors, IPV perpetrated and received (including reports and observed couple interaction), and also antisocial talk (as an indicator of assortative partnering). The study will involve secondary analysis for 323 young adults (184 females 139 males; average age 21 years) and their romantic partners (146 females, 177 males; average age 22 years) from the Linking the Interests of Families and Teachers (LIFT) community sample. At enrollment, the LIFT participants were from at-risk neighborhoods and low socioeconomic backgrounds and in Grades 1 and 5 at local public schools. LIFT participants were attending schools that had been randomly assigned to either receive a short-term prevention program designed to reduce aggressive and other antisocial behaviors or a services-as-usual control condition. The LIFT data set contains over 15 waves of data collected between 1991 and 2009. The proposed study provides a uniquely strong foundation for examination of early childhood and adolescent predictors for males and females of couples' IPV in young adulthood. Using a prospective design, a mediational model will be tested of developmental risk factors (family, peer, youth adjustment) in childhood and adolescence to IPV in young adulthood, including physical, psychological and sexual IPV and injuries. Second, the long term intervention impacts of the LIFT program on IPV will be tested. Third, we will examine proximal associations in young adulthood, and how relationship factors (couple interaction and partner adjustment) are related to couples' IPV and injuries. Moderation by gender will be tested for each model. Identifying mediators and mechanisms by which young men and women who experience early risk may be susceptible to IPV will facilitate the development of timely, targeted interventions. ca/ncf