Long-term exposure to intimate partner violence and adolescents' internalizing symptoms: A repeated measures latent profile analysis

Abstract

Background: Prior research shows that exposure to intimate partner violence (eIPV) impedes child well-being throughout the lifespan. However, it has often failed to capture the timing and chronicity of eIPV in adolescents. Objective: This study explored the longitudinal profiles of children's eIPV from the prenatal stage to age 9 and the associations between the profiles and adolescent internalizing symptoms at age 15. Participants and setting: The sample was 1495 adolescents from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a national longitudinal birth cohort study investigating the well-being of unmarried parents and their children in the US. Methods: Repeated measures latent profile analysis was employed to identify the longitudinal profiles of children's eIPV. Then, pairwise comparisons of three internalizing outcomes were conducted to examine the associations between adolescents' eIPV patterns and internalizing symptoms. Results: Three profiles were identified: 89.8 % stable low eIPV, 6.2 % early eIPV with a peak in toddlerhood, and 4.0 % frequent eIPV at school age. Adolescents who were exposed to IPV in childhood reported worse internalizing symptoms than those having low eIPV over time, with small effect sizes (ranging from 0.23 to 0.31). Conclusions: This study employed a person-centered approach to explore children's longitudinal profile of eIPV, considering both the timing and chronicity of exposure. The findings highlight the necessity of prevention efforts to reduce eIPV, particularly in early childhood. Interventions targeting internalizing symptoms among adolescents should assess the youth's history of eIPV and incorporate strategies to address associated trauma. © 2026 Elsevier Ltd