Friday, 14 January 2005 - 10:00 AM

This presentation is part of: Addressing Intimate Partner Violence, Drug Use, and HIV Among Men in Drug Treatment

Intimate Partner Violence Among Drug Dependent Fathers

Background: Substance use and parenting literature indicate that drug use compromises positive fathering and can constitute barriers to healthy father-child relationships. In addition, studies on IPV have revealed a significant problem among men being treated for drug abuse, and an overlap of IPV and child abuse occurring in families. However, to date, surprisingly few efforts have been made to study the role of fathers in violent families and no studies have examined how fathering attitudes and behaviors are affected by IPV among drug-dependent men. Concurrently, there is substantial and growing evidence suggesting that fathers have positive influences on their children, and that fathering may have positive effects on the well being of men in general. Methods: This study explores fathering behaviors and whether fatherhood is associated with higher levels of intimate partner violence (IPV) among 274 men participating in the 12 month follow-up assessment from the Men’s Health Project (MHP), a NIDA-funded study examining the co-occurrence of substance abuse, HIV risk behavior and perpetration of IPV among men in MMTPs over time. The study utilized a random sample of male MMTP clients, all of whom reported current involvement in a sexual relationship with a female intimate partner. Frequencies and bivariate comparisons using chi-square tests for significant associations were conducted. Analysis of demographic characteristics and self-reported IPV, as well as fathering behaviors of a subset of more than half (n=141, 51.5%) of the men, who were fathers of minor children is presented. Results: This 12-month sample was predominantly Latino (n=121, 44%) and African American (n=107, 39%). Among Latino participants, more than half (n=69, 57%) were fathers, compared to less than half of African American participants (n=50, 47%). More than a third of fathers (n=53, 38%) reported having been raised by parents who abused alcohol or other substances, while 44% (n=61) reported witnessing interparental violence in childhood. More than a third of fathers reported experiencing minor childhood abuse (n=53, 38%) an average of once per week, while 8% (n=11) reported experiencing severe childhood abuse. Perpetration of recent IPV (within the past 6 months) measured by the Revised Conflict Tactics scale was found to be significantly higher among fathers compared to non-fathers. Specifically, rates of minor physical abuse (22.7% vs. 12.8%, p<.03); and minor psychological abuse (66.7% vs. 55.6%, p=.06) were higher among fathers. Fathers reported a number of areas of current conflict with intimate partners over parenting behaviors with shared children, including his own or his partners use of alcohol and drugs, amount of time spent with children, parenting and discipline styles, and child-related financial contributions to the household. Conclusion: Findings highlight the need for more research on the prevalence of IPV among drug dependent fathers and how drug use and IPV may constitute barriers to parenting. Findings suggest that fathering skills interventions may need to incorporate trauma-focused knowledge and conflict and violence prevention skills-building components.

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