Project Overview
This study involved secondary analysis for 323 young adults (184 women and 139 men; average age 21 years) and their romantic partners from the Linking the Interests of Families and Teachers (LIFT) community sample. The study first used a prospective design to test a mediational model of developmental risk factors (family, peer, youth adjustment) in childhood and adolescence to intimate partner violence (IPV) in young adulthood, including physical, psychological, and sexual IPV and injuries. Second, the long-term intervention impacts of the LIFT program on IPV were tested. Third, the team examined proximal associations in young adulthood and how relationship factors (couple interaction and partner adjustment) are related to couples’ IPV and injuries.
Year Project Began: 2014Funder: National Institute of Justice
Principal Investigator
Joann Wu Shortt, Ph.D.

Oregon Social Learning Center
Active Research Projects
- Child Exposure to Family Violence (CEV)
- Linking the Interests of Families and Teachers Couples (LIFT)
Primary Research and Clinical Interests
Dr. Shortt received her Ph.D. from the University of Washington. She researches how relationships and emotions shape our development across the life span. Her research has public health significance and the potential to decrease the impact of risk factors on the lives of young people and their families. She utilizes observational and physiological methodology to understand interactional processes at work in predicting child/adolescent/adult adjustment and relationship outcomes including intimate partner violence. She also has expertise in longitudinal design, developing measures and interventions, and multivariate analysis.