1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The purpose of [this] study was to use a nationally representative sample to identify whether experiences of child maltreatment (neglect; witnessed parental violence; psychological, physical, and sexual abuse) would substantially increase women’s risk of victimization in adulthood. The first objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of IPV (lifetime and 12 months) and revictimization among a representative sample of women living in Quebec, Canada. The second objective was to examine whether adult IPV was predicted by a wide spectrum of child maltreatment experiences. The third objective was to explore the cumulative effect of multiple traumas (or polyvictimization) beyond the unique effect of each form of maltreatment.» (p. 4)

Questions/Hypothèses :
The authors «hypothesized that exposure to any form of child maltreatment would increase the likelihood of IPV, and that polyvictimization would predict IPV, beyond each type of exposure.» (p. 4)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«A sample of 1,001 randomly selected female adult respondents from the province of Quebec, Canada, was surveyed via telephone.» (p. 4) «A representative sample of 621 women was selected from the initial population […]. Respondents were living in different parts of the province, and 69.5% were between the ages of 25 and 64.» (p. 7)

Instruments :
- Sondage
- Questionnaire

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

This study «highlighted that revictimization affects 7.2% of women living in Quebec […]. In other words, seven women out of 100 have experienced both child maltreatment and physical violence from an intimate partner during their adult life. [Furthermore, this] study expanded on past revictimization research by examining the associations between IPV and five distinct types of child maltreatment: neglect, sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse, and witnessing parental violence. [Results] showed that among women victims of IPV, more than two thirds (68%) were victimized during their childhood, regardless of the type of experienced violence. [These] findings also underscore the role of these five types of child maltreatment in revictimization in adulthood. Women who were victimized as children, physically, sexually, or psychologically, were found to be more at risk of experiencing violence in their romantic relationships.» (p. 11) This study also demonstrates «that the cumulative effect of early childhood trauma—or polyvictimization—is a risk factor for IPV over and above each type of child maltreatment. [These] results suggest that the more forms of child maltreatment women experience, the more likely they are to be revictimized in adulthood.» (p. 12) Overall, the «present findings provide much needed empirically based evidence to support a systematic assessment of childhood interpersonal trauma and IPV in women who consult in clinical settings.» (p. 13)