Purpose: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent in the U.S., and has many physical and mental health implications. While several studies have explored the impact of IPV experience on individuals, less is known about which factors are predictive of IPV victimization. Method: The current study examined the extent to which substance use, self-efficacy, and differentiation each predicted experiences of IPV among women seeking treatment for a substance use disorder using a multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results: Results showed that women who reported lower levels of differentiation were significantly more likely to experience IPV. However, no other significant IPV predictors were found. Conclusions: Current findings suggest that differentiation may be an effective therapeutic target for IPV prevention.
Keywords: Intimate partner violence; differentiation; self-efficacy; substance use.