This master's thesis, aimed to examine the correlation between child abuse and intimate partner violence. Child abuse predicts or at least increases the odds of developing anomalies later in life, delinquent behaviour in adolescence, mental illness, and intimate partner violence. Children who grow up in families where violence and abuse are prevalent will later experience intense feelings of inadequacy in intimate partner relationships, reflected in the inability to feel compassion and emotional closeness between partners (Kompan Erzar 2006, 186).
The theoretical part of the thesis discusses child abuse and intimate partner violence. Various organisations worldwide are trying to stop child abuse – particularly physical abuse – by law. However, this is proving difficult because abuse, especially physical abuse, is widespread. Most people have experienced violence or are perpetrators of it. It is also difficult for people to admit their parents' faults or question their or their parents' upbringing: this makes people very tolerant of abuse, particularly physical and psychological abuse.
The purpose of the study was to see whether we could establish a relationship between child abuse and intimate partner violence. After reviewing the literature, we found that several studies on the link between child abuse and the individual's mental health had already been conducted. Our study confirmed the relationship between child abuse and intimate partner violence.
Persons in abusive relationships are initially unaware of what is happening. Violence, particularly psychological violence, which is how most intimate partner violence starts, is typically hidden under the guise of love and care for the other person. (Aničič et al. 2002, 130). The most frequent reasons for conflict within the relationship are men's expectations of domestic work, jealousy, and possessiveness, women's attempts to leave their husbands, the upbringing of the children, etc. (Filipčič 2002, 93).
Our quantitative study found statistically significant correlations between child abuse, antipathy and rejection by parents or caregivers, and intimate partner violence. Statistically significant differences were also found between persons affected by prolonged parental absence (for all 18 years) and persons unaffected by it regarding experiencing a combination of intimate partner violence. No statistically significant differences were found between persons who experienced loss and persons regarding physical and emotional abuse and harassment in intimate partner relationships. However, we found a statistically significant difference between participants who had been in an intimate partner relationship and those who had not in terms of experiencing antipathy from their fathers or male caregivers in childhood. We did not find statistically significant differences between those in an intimate partner relationship and those who were not. The latter experienced more child abuse, less empathy, and more rejection from their parents or caregivers.
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