This study examined a multiple mediator model explaining how sibling perpetration and one's attachment style mediate the relation between parent-to-child victimization and dating violence perpetration. A sample of undergraduate students (n = 392 women, n = 89 men) completed measures of the aforementioned variables on an Internet survey. For men, path analyses found no mediation; parent-to-child victimization had a direct association with dating violence perpetration, no association was found between sibling perpetration and dating violence perpetration, and attachment anxiety, but not attachment avoidance, was positively associated with dating violence perpetration for men. For women, the hypothesized mediation model was supported; parent-to-child victimization had a direct association with dating violence perpetration, and sibling perpetration and attachment anxiety served as mediating variables. Attachment avoidance was not associated with dating violence perpetration for women. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.

The present study examined whether predictors of romantic‐partner conflict may vary as a function of family structure. Using a cross‐sectional design, we tested a mediation model of conflict resolution behaviours among late adolescents from intact () and divorced () families. Adolescents rated conflict resolution behaviours in five dyadic relationships: interparental, mother–adolescent, father–adolescent, sibling, and romantic partner. Mother–adolescent and father–adolescent conflict resolution behaviours mediated the relationship between interparental and sibling conflict resolution. Moreover, both mother–adolescent and sibling conflict resolution behaviours mediated the relationship between interparental and romantic‐partner conflict resolution behaviours. This model was supported for both positive and negative behaviours, and it applied equally well to adolescents from intact and divorced families. Results are discussed in the context of social learning theories and support conflict resolution behaviours within the family spilling over into romantic relationships for adolescents from both intact and divorced families.

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The present study provides experimental data comparing emerging adults’ attitudes toward dating and sibling violence in adolescence using a new methodology in which participants observe a violent interaction between adolescents. The reported amount of violence experienced in dating and sibling relationships among emerging adults is also compared. The participants included 148 emerging adults (111 females, 37 males) who were in the dating violence condition and 134 emerging adults (93 females, 41 males) in the sibling violence condition. The results provide initial psychometric data on a new measure to assess attitudes toward interpersonal violence in adolescence—the Attitudes toward Interpersonal Violence Assessment (AIVA). Using this new observational measure in an experimental design, empirical evidence was found that (1) male initiated violence was less acceptable than female initiated violence, (2) females were less accepting of violence than males, (3) individuals were more complacent toward sibling violence than dating violence in adolescence, (4) males reported perpetrating more injuries than females, and (5) sibling violence was reported at higher frequencies than dating violence. Implications of the findings are discussed.

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