Grant: Operating Grant: Data Analysis Using Existing CDN Databases and Cohorts

A child in Manitoba is exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) every two hours. While some studies have found no evidence, others have shown that children who are exposed to IPV in the home are more likely to become future survivors/victims or perpetrators of violence as adults. Our goal is to determine if children exposed to IPV in the household are more or less likely to become future survivors/victims or perpetrators of violence. We will also identify factors that either increase or decrease the risk of becoming a future survivor/victim or perpetrator of violence after growing up in a household where IPV occurred. We will use existing provincial data housed at the Manitoba Center for Health Policy (MCHP) to identify family units (mother and her children) where charges have been laid because of IPV involving the mother before their child or children were 18 years old. We will then follow their children up to 22 years to determine if the children were involved in the judicial system as young adults because they either were a perpetrator of violence, survivor/victim of violence, or both. We will calculate the proportion of males and females who become future survivors/victims, perpetrators, or both. Next, we will determine if there are demographic characteristics, mental and physical health disorders, education predictors, or social factors (e.g., receiving income or housing assistance) that increase or decrease the child's risk of being a future survivor/victim or perpetrator of violence. Our results will help doctors, social workers, policy makers, and educators best support children following exposure to IPV. Should we find evidence of children becoming involved in violence in young adulthood, our results will help to advocate for social programming and support for children and youth who are at high risk of being future survivors/victims or perpetrators of violence.