A Systematic Review of Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

A systematic review of risk factors for intimate partner violence IPV was conducted. Inclusion criteria included publication in a peer-reviewed journal, a representative community sample or a clinical sample with a control group comparison, a response rate of at least 50%, use of a physical or sexual violence outcome measure, and control of confounding factors in the analyses. A total of 228 articles were included (170 articles with adult and 58 with adolescent samples). Organized by levels of a dynamic developmental systems perspective, risk factors included (a) contextual characteristics of partners (demographic, neighborhood, community, and school factors), (b) developmental characteristics and behaviors of the partners (e.g., family, peer, psychological/behavioral, and cognitive factors), and (c) relationship influences and interactional patterns. Comparisons to a prior review highlight developments in the field in the past 10 years. Recommendations for intervention and policy along with future directions for IPV risk factor research are presented.