Abstract
Purpose
This study examines the relationships among adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization, and two types of adulthood help-seeking behaviors in adulthood—formal and informal. The effects of IPV on formal and informal help-seeking, and the effects of ACEs on IPV and formal and informal help-seeking were assessed. Method: The analytic sample of this study is 591 college students from seven universities in the U.S. and Canada who reported at least one type of ACE and IPV victimization. Results: Results from structural equation modeling show that ACEs were positively associated with IPV victimization. IPV victimization was positively associated with formal and informal help-seeking. ACEs were positively associated with formal but not informal help-seeking. Conclusions: These findings suggest that ACEs influence not only violent experiences in adulthood but also behaviors in relation to seeking help following victimization in adulthood.
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Seon, J., Cho, H., Han, JB. et al. Help-Seeking Behaviors Among College Students Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence and Childhood Adversity. J Fam Viol 37, 681–690 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-021-00311-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-021-00311-3