Does Emotion Regulation Mediate the Relation Between Family-of-Origin Violence and Intimate Partner Violence?

Family-of-origin violence (FOV), including child maltreatment and exposure to interparental violence during childhood, is frequently cited as a risk factor for intimate partner violence (IPV) in adulthood. Emotion regulation (ER) difficulties have been linked to FOV and to IPV, but research has not identified the role of ER as a mechanism by which past exposure to FOV predicts current IPV. The current study examines whether greater FOV predicts ER difficulties, whether these difficulties can explain/mediate the relationship between FOV and IPV, and whether the process differs according to the gender of parent-child dyads. Emerging adult participants (475 women, 145 men) aged 18 to 30 years, who were in a current romantic relationship lasting at least 3 months, completed measures of past FOV, current difficulties in ER, and IPV perpetrated and experienced in current intimate relationships. ER difficulties mediated the relationship between FOV and current IPV; however, differences among specific types of FOV and gender were noted. Results support an intergenerational transmission of family violence and suggest that parent-child gender dyads influence this process.

Bridging Systems to Implement HIV/STI Programming Within the Juvenile Justice System: Strengths and Challenges of a Local Change Team Approach.

Justice-involved youth are at risk for HIV/STIs but do not access services. The complex challenges of improving the delivery of health-related services within juvenile justice (JJ) settings warrant exploration of strategies to close this service gap. This study describes the successes and challenges of utilizing a local change team (LCT) strategy comprising JJ and health agency staff to implement HIV/STI programming in JJ settings, across six counties in six states in the U.S. Five focus groups comprising n = 28 JJ and health agency staff who served as LCT members were conducted. Results demonstrated the structured nature of the collaborative process and strength of commitment among LCT members were necessary for successful implementation of HIV/STI programming. The use of LCTs comprising membership of JJ and (behavioral) health systems has broader applicability to other health and behavioral health issues faced by youth on probation that JJ staff may feel ill equipped to address.