Although there are many studies examining the psychosocial vulnerability factors of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization in emerging adulthood, little is known about the life skills that may be involved, such as social problem solving (SPS) and self-esteem. The aim of the current study is to explore the relationships between SPS, self-esteem, and types (i.e., psychological, physical and sexual) and severity of IPV victimization in emerging adulthood. Based on a French online survey, 929 emerging adults (84.6% of whom were women with a mean age of 23.6) completed self-report questionnaires related to SPS (problem orientations and problem-solving styles), self-esteem and IPV victimization. The results showed that positive SPS skills and higher self-esteem were associated with lower severity of IPV. Multivariate analyses showed that the most associated factors of severe forms of IPV were avoidant and impulsive/carelessness styles. Minor sexual violence was positively associated with lower self-esteem and rational problem-solving skills, while minor psychological victimization was related to avoidant style. Upon completion of this study, it can be said that conflicts which escalate into IPV may be associated with dysfunctional conflict resolution styles, highlighting the importance of interventions that promote the development of life skills in order to prevent IPV.

Understanding the dynamics and vulnerability factors involved in intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization among emerging adults is important in order to better prevent it from happening. The current study aimed to investigate the relationships among dysfunctional attitudes, sociotropy–autonomy, and types of IPV victimization (i.e., psychological, physical, and sexual) and severity (i.e., minor or severe) in emerging adulthood. Through an online survey, 929 emerging adults (84.6% women, mean age = 23.61) completed self-report questionnaires related to variables explored. When checking for childhood abuse, dysfunctional attitudes, sociotropy, and autonomy were related to IPV victimization for at least one type of violence and one scale of severity. The regression models show that independence from others and importance given to others are related to greater severe and minor physical violence, respectively. Attraction to loneliness seemed related to lesser minor psychological violence, whilst valorization of freedom of movement and action were related to greater minor sexual violence. The capacity to oppose others seemed related to greater severe sexual violence. These different cognitive and social characteristics may be associated with poorer social skills, thus making emerging adults more vulnerable to IPV victimization. The preventive and clinical implications are discussed.

This study sought to identify classes of intimate partner violence (IPV) among emerging adults reporting both victimization and perpetration, as well as the co-occurrence of multiple forms of violence (i.e., psychological, physical, and sexual) and the association of psychosocial vulnerability factors (i.e., parental attachment, childhood abuse, dysfunctional attitudes, sociotropy-autonomy, self-esteem, and problem solving). A total of 363 French emerging adults aged 18 to 30 years (mean age = 24.73; 88.7% women) responded to self-report questionnaires at 12-month intervals. A latent class analysis identified five classes: low IPV (37.7%), poly IPV (7.5%), psychological and sexual IPV (8.9%), psychological and physical IPV (6.5%), and psychological IPV (39.4%). The classes were compared with logistic multinomial regressions, with the low IPV class as a reference. The results revealed that a history of IPV (12 months before) was the most predictive factor of IPV classes. Significant psychosocial vulnerability factors included social problem solving for poly IPV and psychological IPV , attraction to loneliness (dimension of autonomy) for psychological and sexual IPV , high self-esteem for poly IPV , and a secure attachment to the mother for psychological IPV and for psychological and physical IPV. Childhood abuse was not associated with the different classes. Implications for research and prevention programs will be discussed. This includes efforts to empirically integrate life skills with established psychosocial factors, and working on representations of IPV by framing conflicts as interactive interactions, to further improve intervention strategies.