Holding anti-feminist gender role beliefs mediate the relationship between family-related adverse childhood experiences and different forms of intimate partner violence perpetration in adulthood

The different forms of intimate partner violence (IPV) are a widespread problem in most societies with broad consequences for the victims, who are frequently women in case of more severe IPV. Corresponding perpetrators are mainly male and there are various, sometimes competing, etiological theories as to why men become violent toward their partners. On the one hand, family-related adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and on the other, traditional and anti-feminist gender role conceptions are repeatedly mentioned in this context. The present study therefore attempted to combine these two theoretical approaches and to examine their validity empirically using a mediation analysis on a German sample of 81 self-reported offenders. For physical and sexual IPV, it was demonstrated for the first time that the effect of ACE on perpetration in adulthood was mediated by anti-feminist sex role notions. However, this did not apply to psychologically aggressive behavior in romantic relationships. These findings suggest that violent experiences in childhood and adolescence generate anti-feminist beliefs that remain stable over time, despite progressive emancipation, and that these appear to be a major etiological factor for future IPV. Preventative potentials derived from these new findings are discussed. •Adverse childhood experiences predict anti-feminist sex role notions in adulthood.•These beliefs predict physical and sexual violence against female partners.•Indirect mediation effects for these forms of intimate partner violence were found.•The results show the compatibility of two central etiological theories for IPV.