Intergenerational ‘transmission’ of intimate partner violence and abuse: interpretations and implications

Intimate partner violence and abuse (IPVA) is a major public health problem; consequences include suicide, homicide, major injuries, sexually transmitted infections, gynaecological problems and mental health conditions. In the first European Union violence against women survey, lifetime IPVA prevalence was 51.7% for ever-partnered women: 48.5% for psychological, 20% for physical and 8.4% for sexual IPVA. Identification of modifiable determinants of IPVA is therefore urgently needed.