THE MODERATING EFFECTS OF MINORITY-BASED FACTORS ON THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE PERPETRATION AMONG TRANSGENDER AND GENDER DIVERSE ADULTS

Abstract

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a pressing global health concern and is associated with a broad range of adverse outcomes. Emerging work has illustrated that transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals experience IPV at disproportionate rates. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a robust predictor of IPV perpetration among cisgender populations, yet only handful of studies have examined this relation among TGD populations. Minority stress and resilience factors (i.e., gender-related rejection and community connectedness [CC]) have been linked to IPV. Despite this, there is a paucity of research on the effects of gender-related minority stress and resilience factors on the association between ACEs and IPV perpetration among TGD adults. Thus, the current study aimed to address these gaps by (1) examining the relationship between ACEs and IPV perpetration and (2) investigating the moderating effects of minority stress and resilience factors on this relationship among TGD adults. This study also employed an exploratory factor analysis to determine whether certain types of ACEs have differential impacts on the risk for IPV perpetration. The current study used pre-existing baseline data (cross-sectional surveys) from a sample of 137 TGD adults, between the ages of 18 and 58. After controlling for age, ACEs were found to be significantly and positively associated with all IPV perpetration types, except sexual IPV, and CC moderated this relationship such that this association was strengthened at low levels of CC. Contrary to expectations, the ACEs-IPV perpetration association was strengthened at low levels of gender-related rejection. Regression analyses did not indicate any significant associations between specific types of ACEs and IPV perpetration. Identification of these risk and protective factors may inform interventions aimed at reducing prevalence of IPV perpetration amongst TGD individuals.