Life Stress as Mediator of the Childhood Maltreatment – Intimate Partner Violence Link in Low-Income, African American Women

This study examined the relations between childhood maltreatment, daily life hassles, and intimate partner violence among
low-income, suicidal, abused African American women (N = 208). Findings indicated a significant association between childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence, such that
women who experienced childhood maltreatment were more likely to experience intimate partner violence as adults than those
who reported no childhood maltreatment history. Also, results from bootstrapping analyses revealed that daily life stressors
mediated the link between childhood maltreatment and both physical and nonphysical forms of intimate partner violence. These
findings highlight the importance of thoroughly assessing for a history of childhood maltreatment, current intimate partner
violence, and the nature and extent of daily hassles when working with low-income African American women, as well as helping
abused women with a history of childhood maltreatment to cope effectively with the daily life hassles that they encounter.