Early exposure to violence, domestic violence, attachment representations, and marital adjustment

The present study investigates the effects of violent experiences in childhood on current domestic violence and marital adjustment, using adult attachment theory as a conceptual framework. A nonclinical sample of 644 Canadian adults in long-term romantic relationships completed measures of adult romantic attachment, conflict tactics scales, and dyadic adjustment. Structural equation modeling revealed that early experiences of violence affect adults’ intimate violence directly and indirectly through anxiety over abandonment and avoidance of intimacy. The actor–partner interdependence model illustrated the importance of early exposure to violence in predicting both partners’ attachment representations, intimate violence, and couple adjustment. Findings are discussed with reference to the clinical issues surrounding minor violence against the intimate partner. The presence of physical and psychological violence in love relationships is inherently paradoxical. Attachment theory is a useful framework for gaining a better understanding of this association. Yet, no study has empirically tested an integrative model of the relation between early exposure to violence, adult intimate partner violence (IPV), and marital adjustment, using the attachment theory

[1]  D. Kashy,et al.  Conceptual and Methodological Issues in the Analysis of Data from Dyads and Groups , 2012 .

[2]  D. M. Lawson Attachment, interpersonal problems, and family of origin functioning: Differences between partner violent and nonpartner violent men. , 2008 .

[3]  S. Stith,et al.  Marital Satisfaction and Marital Discord as Risk Markers for Intimate Partner Violence: A Meta-analytic Review , 2008, Journal of Family Violence.

[4]  Angela R. Gover,et al.  The Relationship Between Violence in the Family of Origin and Dating Violence Among College Students , 2008, Journal of interpersonal violence.

[5]  D. Annis Dyadic Data Analysis , 2007 .

[6]  Erika Lawrence,et al.  Trajectories of change in physical aggression and marital satisfaction. , 2007, Journal of family psychology : JFP : journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association.

[7]  P. Shaver,et al.  Attachment in Adulthood: Structure, Dynamics, and Change , 2007 .

[8]  A. Christensen,et al.  Relationship violence among couples seeking therapy: common couple violence or battering? , 2007, Journal of marital and family therapy.

[9]  Frederick G. Lopez,et al.  Borderline and Antisocial Personality Scores as Mediators Between Attachment and Intimate Partner Violence , 2007, Violence and Victims.

[10]  M. Swahn,et al.  Differences in frequency of violence and reported injury between relationships with reciprocal and nonreciprocal intimate partner violence. , 2007, American journal of public health.

[11]  S. Sabourin,et al.  Early Abuse Experiences and Subsequent Gender Differences in Couple Adjustment , 2006, Violence and Victims.

[12]  M. Whisman Childhood trauma and marital outcomes in adulthood , 2006 .

[13]  Stacey L. Williams,et al.  Patterns of Violent Relationships, Psychological Distress, and Marital Satisfaction in a National Sample of Men and Women , 2005 .

[14]  M. Dutton,et al.  Coercion in Intimate Partner Violence: Toward a New Conceptualization , 2005 .

[15]  M. P. Johnson,et al.  The Differential Effects of Intimate Terrorism and Situational Couple Violence , 2005 .

[16]  P. Valois,et al.  Development and validation of a brief version of the dyadic adjustment scale with a nonparametric item analysis model. , 2005, Psychological assessment.

[17]  M. Straus Cross-Cultural Reliability and Validity of the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales: A Study of University Student Dating Couples in 17 Nations , 2004 .

[18]  G. Margolin,et al.  The role of family-of-origin violence in men's marital violence perpetration. , 2004, Clinical psychology review.

[19]  D. Dutton,et al.  Treating Assaultive Men from an Attachment Perspective , 2003 .

[20]  P. Cohen,et al.  Intergenerational transmission of partner violence: a 20-year prospective study. , 2003, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[21]  H. White,et al.  Intimate Partner Violence Among Abused and Neglected Children in Young Adulthood: The Mediating Effects of Early Aggression, Antisocial Personality, Hostility and Alcohol Problems , 2003 .

[22]  S. Dube,et al.  Violent Childhood Experiences and the Risk of Intimate Partner Violence in Adults , 2003 .

[23]  Ileana Arias,et al.  Physical and mental health effects of intimate partner violence for men and women. , 2002, American journal of preventive medicine.

[24]  D. Jacobvitz,et al.  Measurement of adult attachment: The place of self-report and interview methodologies , 2002, Attachment & human development.

[25]  S. Martin,et al.  A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 , 2002 .

[26]  T. Bradbury,et al.  Attachment insecurity and the distinction between unhappy spouses who do and do not divorce. , 2001, Journal of family psychology : JFP : journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association.

[27]  D. DiLillo,et al.  Interpersonal functioning among women reporting a history of childhood sexual abuse: empirical findings and methodological issues. , 2001, Clinical psychology review.

[28]  Amy M. Smith Slep,et al.  Examining Partner and Child Abuse: Are We Ready for a More Integrated Approach to Family Violence? , 2001, Clinical child and family psychology review.

[29]  N. Jacobson,et al.  Attachment, Emotional Regulation, and the Function of Marital Violence: Differences Between Secure, Preoccupied, and Dismissing Violent and Nonviolent Husbands , 2000, Journal of Family Violence.

[30]  M. P. Johnson,et al.  Research on Domestic Violence in the 1990s: Making Distinctions , 2000 .

[31]  B. Byrne Structural equation modeling with EQS : basic concepts, applications, and programming , 2000 .

[32]  J. Archer Sex differences in aggression between heterosexual partners: a meta-analytic review. , 2000, Psychological bulletin.

[33]  L. Sroufe,et al.  Attachment from infancy to early adulthood in a high-risk sample: continuity, discontinuity, and their correlates. , 2000, Child development.

[34]  E. Waters,et al.  Attachment security in infancy and early adulthood: a twenty-year longitudinal study. , 2000, Child development.

[35]  R. T. Muller,et al.  Relationship Between Attachment Style and Posttraumatic Stress Symptomatology Among Adults Who Report the Experience of Childhood Abuse , 2000, Journal of traumatic stress.

[36]  B. S. Nelson,et al.  Systemic effects of trauma in clinic couples: an exploratory study of secondary trauma resulting from childhood abuse. , 2000, Journal of marital and family therapy.

[37]  D. Dutton Traumatic origins of intimate rage , 1999 .

[38]  C. Piotrowski Use of Tests and Measures in Marital and Family Research , 1999, Psychological reports.

[39]  D. Dutton,et al.  Modus operandi and personality disorder in incarcerated spousal killers. , 1999, International journal of law and psychiatry.

[40]  Rex B. Kline,et al.  Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling , 1998 .

[41]  Patrick T. Davies,et al.  Exploring children's emotional security as a mediator of the link between marital relations and child adjustment. , 1998, Child development.

[42]  A. Street,et al.  Individual and Marital Consequences of Victimization: Moderating Effects of Relationship Efficacy and Spouse Support , 1997, Journal of Family Violence.

[43]  D L Newman,et al.  Gender differences in partner violence in a birth cohort of 21-year-olds: bridging the gap between clinical and epidemiological approaches. , 1997, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[44]  R. MacCallum,et al.  Power analysis and determination of sample size for covariance structure modeling. , 1996 .

[45]  D. Sugarman,et al.  The Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2) , 1996 .

[46]  M. Bakermans-Kranenburg,et al.  Attachment representations in mothers, fathers, adolescents, and clinical groups: a meta-analytic search for normative data. , 1996, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[47]  M. P. Johnson,et al.  Patriarchal terrorism and common couple violence: two forms of violence against women , 1995 .

[48]  K. O’leary,et al.  Alcohol and aggressive personality styles: Potentiators of serious physical aggression against wives? , 1995 .

[49]  Patrick T. Davies,et al.  Marital conflict and child adjustment: an emotional security hypothesis. , 1994, Psychological bulletin.

[50]  D. Dutton,et al.  Intimacy‐Anger and Insecure Attachment as Precursors of Abuse in Intimate Relationships , 1994 .

[51]  Karl G. Jöreskog,et al.  Lisrel 8: Structural Equation Modeling With the Simplis Command Language , 1993 .

[52]  D. Cicchetti,et al.  Toward an ecological/transactional model of community violence and child maltreatment: consequences for children's development. , 1993, Psychiatry.

[53]  K. O’leary,et al.  Family of Origin Violence and MCMI-II Psychopathology, Among Partner Assaultive Men , 1993, Violence and Victims.

[54]  M. Browne,et al.  Alternative Ways of Assessing Model Fit , 1992 .

[55]  Cheryl D. Thomas,et al.  Prevalence and correlates of dating violence in a Canadian university sample. , 1992 .

[56]  D. Dutton,et al.  Evidence for Long-Term, Specific Effects of Childhood Abuse and Neglect on Criminal Behavior in Men , 1992 .

[57]  K J Hemphill,et al.  Patterns of Socially Desirable Responding Among Perpetrators and Victims of Wife Assault , 1992, Violence and Victims.

[58]  A. Holtzworth-Munroe,et al.  The Competency of Responses Given by Maritally Violent Versus Nonviolent Men to Problematic Marital Situations , 1991, Violence and Victims.

[59]  J R Nesselroade,et al.  Reporting structural equation modeling results in Psychology and Aging: some proposed guidelines. , 1991, Psychology and aging.

[60]  K. Bartholomew,et al.  Attachment styles among young adults: a test of a four-category model. , 1991, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[61]  K. Bartholomew Avoidance of Intimacy: An Attachment Perspective , 1990 .

[62]  Achim Kowalczyk,et al.  Behind Closed Doors. Violence in the American Family , 1990 .

[63]  P. Bentler,et al.  Comparative fit indexes in structural models. , 1990, Psychological bulletin.

[64]  L. Hayduk,et al.  Structural Equation Modeling with LISREL: Essentials and Advances , 1989 .

[65]  C. Hazan,et al.  Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. , 1987, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[66]  D. Sugarman,et al.  An Analysis of Risk Markers in Husband to Wife Violence: The Current State of Knowledge , 1986, Violence and Victims.

[67]  J. Bowlby Attachment and loss: retrospect and prospect. , 1969, The American journal of orthopsychiatry.

[68]  E. Stark,et al.  Coercive control : the entrapment of women in personal life , 2007 .

[69]  Phillip R. Shaver,et al.  The Attachment Behavioral System in Adulthood: Activation, Psychodynamics, and Interpersonal Processes. , 2003 .

[70]  C. Rennison,et al.  Intimate Partner Violence: (378132004-001) , 2000 .

[71]  P. Bentler,et al.  Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis : Conventional criteria versus new alternatives , 1999 .

[72]  Robin Fitzgerald,et al.  Family Violence in Canada : A Statistical Profile 1998 , 1998 .

[73]  S. Oskamp,et al.  Violence in intimate relationships , 1999 .

[74]  Phillip R. Shaver,et al.  Handbook of attachment : theory, research, and clinical applications , 1999 .

[75]  P. Tjaden,et al.  Prevalence, Incidence, and Consequences of Violence Against Women: Findings From the National Violence Against Women Survey , 1998 .

[76]  Kelly A. Brennan,et al.  Self-report measurement of adult attachment: An integrative overview. , 1998 .

[77]  J. Simpson,et al.  Attachment theory and close relationships. , 1998 .

[78]  A. Satorra,et al.  Corrections to test statistics and standard errors in covariance structure analysis. , 1994 .

[79]  I. Gotlib,et al.  Psychopathology and early experience: a reappraisal of retrospective reports. , 1993, Psychological bulletin.

[80]  Peter M. Bentler,et al.  EQS : structural equations program manual , 1989 .

[81]  J. Bowlby,et al.  Violence in the family as a disorder of the attachment and caregiving systems , 1984, American journal of psychoanalysis.

[82]  J. H. Steiger Statistically based tests for the number of common factors , 1980 .

[83]  G. Spanier Measuring Dyadic Adjustment: new scales for assessing the quality of marriage and similar dyads , 1976 .

[84]  Stephen Hughes Attachment and Loss. Vol. I , 1969, Mental Health.