An exploratory test of the pathways between adverse childhood experiences and later perpetration of intimate partner violence in South African male youth using theoretical frameworks

Background: Competing theories have been posited to explain the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and later perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV): social learning theory, trauma theory, and feminist theory. The objective of this study was to test these three theories explaining link between ACES and later perpetration of IPV in one sample. Participants and setting: Adolescent boys (N = 498; 16.5 years old (SD = 1.35) at baseline) living in Soweto, South Africa. Methods: Participants completed baseline and one-year follow-up questionnaires assessing ACEs, IPV perpetration, gender attitudes, and mental health symptoms. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the theories. Results: Lifetime ACEs at baseline were significantly associated with IPV perpetration at follow-up (B = 0.21, SE = 0.05, p < .001). This relationship was fully mediated by psychological distress, supporting trauma theory. ACEs involving violence in the home and those involving violence in the community showed significant indirect effects on IPV perpetration (B = 0.02, p < .05; B = 0.02, p < .05, respectively), whereas ACEs not related to violence showed no effect; this finding provides some support for social learning theory. Gender attitudes did not mediate the association between ACEs and IPV perpetration, therefore feminist theory was not supported. Conclusions: Multiple theories attempt to explain the link between ACEs and IPV perpetration. This study found support for trauma theory, and to some extent, social learning theory. Findings suggest the need for interventions to improve coping skills among youth, conflict resolution skills among family members, and non-violent norms among community members.