Exploring social, motivational, and cognitive factors in female-perpetrated interpersonal violence: a study of community-based UK women

This study explores various social, motivational, and cognitive factors associated with female-perpetrated interpersonal violence, with social role theory and relational-cultural theory as key theoretical frameworks. A community sample of 219 adult women in the UK completed a survey combining retrospective and current self-report surveys, including experiences of victimization, delinquency, peer pressure, gang affiliation, social status, empathy, impulsivity, and moral disengagement. Hierarchical regression analyses were employed to establish relationships between such factors and interpersonal violence during adolescence. Findings revealed that retrospective delinquency and victimization during adolescence were the strongest predictors of self-reported interpersonal violence. Notably, a moderated mediation revealed that perspective-taking was significantly weakened among women with higher levels of self-reported delinquency during adolescence, suggesting that delinquent behavior may override empathic functioning. Implications include the importance of interventions that target both victimization and delinquent behaviors early in development, as well as the need for approaches that address cognitive processes (e.g. empathic functioning) among girls and women. Future research should utilize longitudinal designs to clarify the developmental trajectory of these associations and to inform tailored prevention strategies.