A Systematic Review of the Psychosocial Mechanism Underlying the Pathway from Intra-Familial Victimization in Childhood to Intimate Relationship Violence in Adolescence and Adulthood

Intra-familial childhood victimization (IF-CV) has been associated with increased involvement in relationship violence in adolescence and adulthood. Drawing from developmental theories by Bowlby on attachment styles, Young on Early Maladaptive Schema (EMS), and Erikson on psychosocial development (i.e., Sense-of-Self), we propose a conceptual model to explain this mechanism. A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review was conducted to synthesize evidence in support of this hypothesis. Three databases (PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science) were searched, with additional manual searching using Google Scholar and reference tracing. A total of 17 peer-reviewed studies met the inclusion criteria. Results indicated that attachment styles may moderate, while EMS mediate, the link between IF-CV and relationship violence. These findings suggest that attachment may function as a primary protective factor against the cycle of violence, through its effect on EMS. Aspects of Sense-of-Self, such as self-control, self-blame, self-worth, and self-esteem, also emerged as strong contributors to the mechanism. However, none of the studies have investigated identity resolution as a potential mediator of the pathway. Neither have the three factors (attachment, EMS, and Sense-of-Self) been studied previously in relation to one another. The effect of gender is inconclusive, while the impact of age has not been examined in any of the papers. Future research should address these gaps to provide further insights into the mechanism and better inform interventions.