The Relation Between Violence Experienced in Childhood and Women’s Exposure to Violence in Later Life: Evidence From Europe

Abstract

Experiences of violence in childhood can affect women’s later exposure to violence and their risk of victimization. Comparable data on the extent of abuse in childhood are still rare. The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) conducted in 2012 the first comparative European Union (EU)-wide survey on violence against women. This article looks at the extent and effects of childhood experiences of violence reported by women in the FRA violence against women survey in all 28 EU Member States. The article does not examine abuse and violence by children toward other children, as the FRA’s survey—which forms the basis of the analysis in this article—interviewed respondents aged 18 years and above. Women who indicated having experienced violence by an adult perpetrator before the age of 15 years appear to be at greater risk of experiencing physical and sexual abuse in later life. Factors such as the severity and frequency of violence in childhood and the type of perpetrator of childhood abuse have an impact on later victimization of women. The article examines the relation between childhood experiences of violence and later exposure to partner and nonpartner violence, by severity, frequency, and type of perpetrator. The results confirm that already a single incidence of violence in childhood increases the likelihood of revictimization at a later stage in life. The findings also show that sexual and emotional abuse in childhood has particularly strong effects on women’s lifelong experience of violence with respect to both intimate partner and nonpartner violence. The findings are assessed in the light of how to prevent cycles of abuse.