# The role of substance use trajectory on the association between childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence: a gene-environment study

> **NIH NIH R36** · PURDUE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $8,277

## Abstract

Project Abstract
The objective of this research is to understand the development of substance use (SU) from adolescence to
adulthood, as a mediator of the cycle of childhood maltreatment and adult intimate partner violence (IPV;
perpetrating and being a victim). We also consider the potential for gene-environment interactions on this
developmental pathway by creating polygenic risk scores (PRS) for SU. The interaction between co-occurring
childhood maltreatment exposures and genetic risk for SU are not fully evaluated for SU development from
adolescence to adulthood. Further, SU problems and history of childhood maltreatment are both linked to
perpetrating and becoming victims of violence, particularly intimate partner violence (IPV) during adulthood.
Thus, it is likely that the developmental trajectory of SU is a mediator between multiple co-occurring childhood
maltreatment exposures and IPV perpetration or victimization. However, it is also possible that this association
is influenced (e.g., moderated) by genetic predispositions for SU pathology.
The present study has several practical implications. A key practical implication of this work could include
efficient identification of individuals at higher and lower risk of SU and IPV based on their maltreatment
exposure and genetic risk. For example, it is possible that certain combinations of specific maltreatment
exposures, but not genetics, could be key risk factors for SU and IPV. If this is true, then interventions that
target individuals’ behavior (i.e. SU and aggression) could be implemented. Specifically, for sub-groups with
combination of maltreatment exposure that make youth most vulnerable for SU. Interventions that improve
parenting practices and family functioning during childhood to reduce maltreatment exposure would be more
likely to effectively reduce SU and IPV. Moreover, SU development could also be targeted to break the cycle of
violence between childhood maltreatment and IPV. The genetic findings from this research contribute to the
field of genetic epidemiology by proving greater insight into the biology of a complex public health problem (i.e.
SU) and improve the efficacy of SU treatments.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9978031
- **Project number:** 5R36DA047563-02
- **Recipient organization:** PURDUE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Aura Ankita Mishra
- **Activity code:** R36 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $8,277
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-07-15 → 2020-07-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9978031

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9978031, The role of substance use trajectory on the association between childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence: a gene-environment study (5R36DA047563-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9978031. Licensed CC0.

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