A Latent Class Analysis of Male Perpetrated Intimate Partner Violence: Associations With Emotion Regulation and Heavy Episodic Drinking

Men’s perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) is an exigent public health crisis. Considerable research has been conducted to understand the etiology and risk factors associated with male-perpetrated IPV, such as emotion regulation (ER) and heavy episodic drinking (HED). Traditionally, research examining the relationship between evidenced-based predictors and IPV have used variable-oriented approaches. More recent advances in statistical methods now offer opportunities to take person-centered approaches to that can further augment how researchers conceptualize male-perpetrated IPV. Namely, such methods will enhance researcher’s understanding of the heterogenous nature of men’s perpetration of IPV and how these subgroups may differ in evidence-based predictors such as ER an HED. Little research has examined the relationships between the heterogenous nature of men’s IPV perpetration, ER, and HED. AS such the current study aims to address this gap in the literature through the use of latent class analysis. The current data comes from a larger study that aimed to examine the relationship between alcohol intoxication and IPV between heterosexual couples. A final sample of 330 men’s data were used in the current study, which consisted of their responses to measures of IPV perpetration, ER, and frequency of engaging in HED. Latent class analysis was suggestive of a three-profile solution, representing a low likelihood, moderate, and high likelihood classes. Further these groups were found to have significant differences in ER and HED, where the high likelihood class exhibited more ER deficits and engaged in more HED than the other two classes. The moderate class also displayed more ER deficits and engaged in more HED than the low likelihood class. The current study further adds to the growing literature that is suggestive of the heterogenous nature of men’s IPV perpetration. Further given the differences in these classes in ER and HED, prevention or intervention programs may want to consider tailoring their program to classes different needs.