The current study examined the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACE’s) and becoming a perpetrator of intimate partner violence (IPV) through a meta-analysis of previous published studies. The strength of the relationship between childhood trauma and the perpetration of IPV was averaged and compared across 49 studies reporting a total of 216 effects across a range of ACEs (neglect, physical abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, peer bullied and witnessing domestic violence) and for three different types of perpetrated IPV, including physical, psychological, and sexual. Potential moderators of these relationships were also explored, including the age of the IPV perpetrator, the sex of the perpetrator responsible for the ACEs, and whether the family of origin perpetrated the ACE. Potential moderating effects of the study design variable were also included. The only relationship that wasn’t significant and positive was between neglect and psychological IPV, which was negative. Otherwise, the results showed small but significant relationships between all the other ACEs and at least one form of IPV, although not all ACEs were correlated with all IPV outcomes. The non-family-of-origin ACE (being physically bullied by peers) demonstrated a similar correlation with IPV outcomes for family-of-origin ACEs. Additionally, differential sex effects were observed with the relationship between ACEs and IPV perpetration generally being stronger for males than for females.

Relatedly, maternal perpetrated ACEs tended to have stronger relationships with future IPV perpetuation than paternal perpetuated ACEs.

These results are congruent with Social Learning Theory (Bandura, 1973), and Attachment Theory (Bowlby, 1969), but these theories do not explain all the results. The findings are discussed together with the implications for future research that aims to further elucidate the link between ACEs and IPV perpetration.