Path Analysis of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Early Marriage, Early Pregnancy, and Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence Among Young Women in Honduras

• Published in: Journal of family violence 2024-05, Vol.39 (4), p.705-722
• Main Authors: Huber-Krum, Sarah, Miedema, Stephanie Spaid, Shortt, Joann Wu, Villaveces, Andrés, Kress, Howard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adverse childhood experiences; Childhood; Childhood experiences; Childhood factors; Clinical Psychology; Clustering; Criminology and Criminal Justice; Domestic violence; Early childhood education; Intimate partner violence; Law and Psychology; Marriage; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Article; Path analysis; Personal relationships; Pregnancy; Prevention programs; Psychotherapy and Counseling; Quality of Life Research; Risk factors; Sex crimes; Sexual violence; Young women
• ISSN: 0885-7482; 1573-2851
• DOI: 10.1007/s10896-023-00520-y

Purpose The pathways by which adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with early marriage and early pregnancy are poorly understood. Early marriage and early pregnancy may be risk factors for adulthood intimate partner violence (IPV). The aim of this study was to assess the relationships among ACEs, early marriage, early pregnancy, and IPV among women in Honduras. Method We used weighted data from 1,436 women aged 18–24 years from the nationally representative 2017 Honduras Violence Against Children and Youth Survey. We used path analysis to estimate relationships and accounted for sample design, non-response, and within-country clustering. Results We found that ACEs had differential relationships with outcomes of interest. For example, witnessing violence in the community was directly associated with increased probability of early pregnancy (10 percentage points (PP); 95% CI: 0.04, 0.15) and IPV (6 PP; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.10), while emotional violence was not directly or indirectly associated with any outcome. Early marriage and early pregnancy had no direct or indirect effect on IPV, but the total effect of early marriage on IPV was significant. Conclusions Understanding the relationship between ACEs, early marriage, early pregnancy, and IPV may help inform prevention efforts. For example, programs aiming to reduce early pregnancy may consider addressing sexual violence experienced in childhood.