Life as she knows it: The effects of adverse childhood experiences on intimate partner violence among women prisoners

• Published in: Child abuse & neglect 2018-11, Vol.85, p.68-79
• Main Authors: Jones, Melissa S., Worthen, Meredith G.F., Sharp, Susan F., McLeod, David A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abused women; Adults; Adverse childhood experiences; Child abuse & neglect; Child sexual abuse; Childhood; Childhood experiences; Childhood factors; Domestic violence; Emotional abuse; Family Violence; Female offenders; Females; Feminism; Feminist pathways; Feminist theory; Imprisonment; Incarcerated women; Intimate partner violence; Life course; Life course theory; Prison; Prisoners; Psychological abuse; Sex crimes; Sexual abuse; Violence; Women
• ISSN: 0145-2134; 1873-7757
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.08.005

Most incarcerated women suffer from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as abuse (e.g., physical, sexual, emotional), neglect, (e.g., physical, emotional), and chaotic home environments (e.g., witnessing domestic violence), and adult intimate partner violence (IPV). Yet the majority of research on the relationship between ACEs and IPV has been limited to non-incarcerated populations. Using data from a stratified random sample of all incarcerated women in Oklahoma (n = 355), we explore the relationships between individual, cumulative, and clusters of ACEs as they relate to multiple forms of IPV in adulthood utilizing a feminist life course theory approach. Our findings indicate that individual ACEs, high accumulation of ACEs (five or more), and clusters of ACEs are linked to simple assault, aggravated assault, sexual abuse, and psychological abuse in adult intimate relationships in the pre-prison lives of women prisoners suggesting strong support for the use of a feminist life course theory approach in understanding these relationships.