From exposure to expert: Associations between witnessing intimate partner violence and risk and protective experiences among future social workers

Despite increased attention in the literature to understanding the adverse effect of IPV on survivors, little is known about exposure to IPV during childhood and the later impact on emerging professionals. The present study is among the first to analyze the relationship between witnessing IPV during childhood and other psychosocial variables among Master of Social Work (MSW) students. Survey data was collected from MSW students in the United States. Participants (N = 468) responded to items including demographics, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), protective and compensatory experiences (PACEs), verbal and physical aggression, physical and emotional sibling violence (PESV), participant/family mental health, participant/family substance use, and participant physical health. Chi-square analysis found an association between witnessing IPV and household income in childhood, father and mother education, geographic region in childhood, and family history of mental illness and substance abuse. Independent t-test analysis found differences in ACEs, PACEs, verbal aggression and PESV by witnessing IPV. Findings suggest that for MSW students, childhood exposure to IPV may be associated with socioeconomic status, geographic context, verbal aggression, ACES, PACEs, and PESV. The implications for social work education and social work practice are critical to consider as MSW students will be those supporting society’s most vulnerable populations.