Persons with certain risk factors are more likely to become perpetrators or victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). Those risk factors contribute to IPV but might not be direct causes. Not everyone who is identified as “at risk” becomes involved in violence.
Some risk factors for IPV victimization and perpetration are the same, while others are associated with one another. For example, childhood physical or sexual victimization is a risk factor for future IPV perpetration and victimization.
A combination of individual, relational, community, and societal factors contribute to the risk of becoming an IPV perpetrator or victim. Understanding these multilevel factors can help identify various opportunities for prevention.
Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Violence
Individual Risk Factors
Low self-esteem
Low income
Low academic achievement
Young age
Aggressive or delinquent behavior as a youth
Heavy alcohol and drug use
Depression
Anger and hostility
Antisocial personality traits
Borderline personality traits
Prior history of being physically abusive
Having few friends and being isolated from other people
Unemployment
Emotional dependence and insecurity
Belief in strict gender roles (e.g., male dominance and aggression in relationships)
Desire for power and control in relationships
Perpetrating psychological aggression
Being a victim of physical or psychological abuse (consistently one of the strongest predictors of perpetration)
History of experiencing poor parenting as a child
History of experiencing physical discipline as a child
Relationship Factors
Marital conflict-fights, tension, and other struggles
Marital instability-divorces or separations
Dominance and control of the relationship by one partner over the other
Economic stress
Unhealthy family relationships and interactions
Community Factors
Poverty and associated factors (e.g., overcrowding)
Low social capital-lack of institutions, relationships, and norms that shape a community’s social interactions
Weak community sanctions against IPV (e.g., unwillingness of neighbors to intervene in situations where they witness violence)
Societal Factors
Traditional gender norms (e.g., women should stay at home, not enter workforce, and be submissive; men support the family and make the decisions)
Additional Resources
Literature Reviews
Capaldi DM, Knoble NB, Shortt JW, Kim HK. A systematic review of risk factors for intimate partner violence. Partner Abuse 2012;3(2):231–80.
Kantor GK, Jasinski JL. Dynamics and risk factors in partner violence. In: Jasinski JL, Williams LM, editors. Partner violence: a comprehensive review of 20 years of research. Thousand Oaks (CA): Sage; 1998. p. 1–43.
Stith SM, Smith DB, Penn C, Ward D, Tritt D. Risk factor analysis for spouse physical maltreatment: a meta-analytic review. J Aggress Violent Behav. 2004;10:65–98.
Tjaden P, Thoennes N. Extent, nature, and consequences of intimate partner violence: findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey. Washington (DC): Department of Justice (US); 2000a. Publication No. NCJ 181867. Available from URL: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/pubs-sum/181867.htm.
Vagi KJ, Rothman EF, Laztman NE, Tharp AT, Hall DM, Breiding MJ. Beyond correlates: a review of risk and protective factors for adolescent dating violence perpetration. J Youth Adolesc. 2013;42:633–49.
