Which is an individual risk factor for being personally affected by intimate partner violence?

• A. Low income
• B. History of physical or psychological abuse
• C. Mood disorders
• D. Heavy alcohol and drug use

Answer: (B)

Prior exposure to abuse is a strong individual risk factor for being personally affected by intimate partner violence. When someone has experienced physical or psychological abuse before, patterns learned in past relationships—such as seeing violence as normal, diminished self-worth, and fear of asserting safety—can increase the likelihood of entering or staying in an abusive relationship and make it harder to seek help. This personal history directly shapes vulnerability to IPV.

Low income describes broader socioeconomic stress, which can contribute to risk but is not an individual history-related factor. Mood disorders and heavy substance use can be associated with IPV, but they are less specific as direct personal risk factors than a pattern of prior abuse, which more clearly predicts personal victimization.