Exploring intimate partner violence and child maltreatment in families through register data

Abstract

Survey-based research has demonstrated a strong association between intimate partner violence (IPV) and child maltreatment (CM). However, research on whether, and in what forms, such co-occurrence is reflected in police register data is scarce. This study examines how different patterns of family violence—IPV, CM, and their co-occurrence—are recorded in police registers and how sociodemographic characteristics are associated with incidents reported to and documented by the police. Utilizing longitudinal register data from families in Finland with children aged 0–10 in 2008 (N = 228,212), followed from 2009 to 2020 through linked police registers, multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze associations. In total, 2.5% of families experienced violence, with IPV (1.3%) being the most prevalent, followed by CM (0.9%). Co-occurring IPV and CM were rare in police registers, unlike in survey data. However, co-occurrence was significantly associated with sociodemographic disadvantages. In particular, families facing social and economic vulnerability may be more frequently subject to institutional surveillance and intervention, leaving violence hidden in less disadvantaged families. These findings highlight the need to critically examine not only where to look for family violence but also how sociodemographic factors shape how violence is reported and recorded.