Dating Aggression in Emerging Adulthood: Interactions Between Relationship Processes and Individual Vulnerabilities

Abstract

the current study examined the roles of relationship processes and individual vulnerabilities in predicting dating aggression perpetration during emerging adulthood. drawing from the contextual-situational model of courtship aggression (CSM;riggs & o'leary, 1989), as well as other theoretical models of close relationships, we hypothesized that individuals' depressive symptoms and attitudes condoning aggression would moderate the link between the perceived relationship bond and partner aggression perpetration. Using a multi-method, multiinformant approach with college dating couples, we found that highly aggressive couples (n = 23) differed from moderately (n = 27) and nonaggressive couples (n = 15) in having lower perceived relationship bonds, lower female relationship satisfaction, more female depression, and higher male attitudes condoning aggression. Among the 50 physically aggressive couples, a lower perceived relationship bond interacted with symptoms of depression to predict higher levels of psychological and physical aggression perpetration, and higher attitudes condoning aggression further exacerbated the risk for men's physical aggression perpetration only. these associations remained even after controlling for self-reported relationship satisfaction and aggression victimization. Findings from this study are consistent with the CSM and suggest that a lower perceived relationship bond, particularly in combination with symptoms of depression and attitudes condoning aggression, place men and women at increased risk for dating aggression perpetration during emerging adulthood.

More than the sum of two partners: A dyadic perspective on young adult physical dating aggression.

“…Low satisfaction is conceptualized as a catalyst for more frequent conflict, which can in turn escalate into physical aggression (Riggs & O'Leary, 1989). Young adult male's satisfaction predicted physical dating aggression in one study, whereas young adult female's satisfaction predicted aggression in another study (Baker & Stith, 2008;Woodin, Caldeira, & O'Leary, 2013). In addition, lower relationship satisfaction has also been associated with increased risk of physical aggression victimization during young adulthood (Novak & Furman, 2016).…”

Longitudinal Risk Profiles for Physical, Psychological, and Sexual Dating Aggression: a Latent Profile Analysis with Spanish Adolescents

“…In relation to physical DA, although sex was not directly associated with being physically aggressive toward a partner, in line with the literature reporting gender equality for physical DA (Woodin et al, 2013), we need to specify that males are more represented in the Highly aggressive profile, which in turn is associated with involvement in physical DA involvement.…”

Dating Aggression and Sleep Problems in Emerging Adulthood

“…Given that some couples had been dating less than 1 year, relationship duration was controlled. The CTS2 has been commonly used with dating samples (e.g., Woodin, Caldeira, & O'Leary, 2013) and has demonstrated excellent psychometric properties (Straus et al, 1996). Women and men rated the frequency of various aggressive tactics used against their partners using the 8-item Psychological Aggression Subscale (e.g., I insulted or swore at my partner and I called my partner fat or ugly) and the 12-item Physical Aggression Subscale (e.g., I slapped my partner and I pushed or shoved my partner).…”