Aggression and Violent Behavior, First published online, 16 January 2023

Understanding the motivations for the perpetration of intimate partner aggression (IPA) is necessary for treatment. While previous reviews have focused on the frequency with which different motivations have been studied, this systematic review and meta-analysis appraised the quality and effect sizes associated with the motivations of physical and psychological IPA perpetrated by men and women. Motivations were defined as a preceding act or psychological or physiological state which influences an individual's behavior. Studies were identified through searches of PsycINFO, Sage Journals, and Web of Science databases in July 2019 and March 2020. Twenty-three articles met the criteria for review and were critically appraised. Thirteen of the 23 studies failed to provide data or report results sufficient for calculation of effect sizes, thus, the subsequent meta-analyses only include 10 studies. These results showed self-defense, retaliation for emotional hurt, and communication difficulties had the largest effect sizes. However, the small number of studies in the analyses, high levels of heterogeneity, and the differing directions of the estimates of the effect mean the results are currently inconclusive. The review identifies issues for future research to address to improve the quality of research in the field of IPA. (Authors' abstract). Record #8410