Child abuse victims at higher risk of later being abused by spouses: Singapore study

Findings show need to help kids overcome trauma to break cycle of violence: Experts

- Theresa Tan

A new study on domestic violence has found that those who were abused as a child have a significantly higher risk of being abused by their spouse in adulthood.

The study was conducted by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) and the findings highlighted the influence of early traumatic experiences and the need for early intervention to break the cycle of abuse, said its director of translational research Eric Hoo.

Understanding how patterns of behaviour tend to be repeated across generations within families is crucial in addressing the root causes of domestic abuse and intervening to prevent such violence, Dr Hoo told The Straits Times.

The study analysed administrative data, such as government records and social services delivered, of about 200,000 Singapore residents.

Individuals were not identified from the data analysed.

Results from the study, which is part of an ongoing research programme, were presented at the Asian Family Conference in November 2024.

Its key findings are:

● A person who was abused as a child is 1.8 times as likely to be abused by their spouse in adulthood, compared with someone who did not suffer child abuse.

● Children whose parents were victims or perpetrators of spousal violence are up to 2.1 times as likely to be abused, compared with those whose parents did not suffer spousal violence.