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Predicting commitment in young adults' physically aggressive and sexually coercive dating relationships.
Brennan J Young1, Wyndol Furman
1Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
|August 8, 2013
Summary
Understanding commitment in aggressive dating relationships is key. Factors like relationship investment and rejection sensitivity predict whether young women continue in abusive partnerships, informing interventions.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Criminology
Background:
- Intimate partner violence frequently starts in early relationship stages.
- Some aggressive relationships persist, escalating violence risk.
- Understanding commitment in abusive relationships is crucial for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify predictors of commitment in physically aggressive or sexually coercive dating relationships among emerging adults.
- Examine the role of Rusbult's Investment Model, rejection sensitivity, and relational styles.
- Inform interventions for individuals seeking to leave abusive relationships.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 148 young adult women reporting aggression or coercion.
- Applied Rusbult's Investment Model (investment, satisfaction, alternatives, commitment).
- Included rejection sensitivity and anxious/avoidant relational styles as predictors.
Main Results:
- Avoidant relational style indirectly predicted commitment via satisfaction and investment.
- Higher commitment and rejection sensitivity predicted continuing abusive relationships at 6 months.
- Rejection sensitivity and relationship investment are key factors in commitment to abusive relationships.
Conclusions:
- This study enhances understanding of relationship commitment processes in abusive contexts.
- Findings highlight the importance of psychological factors in maintaining aggressive relationships.
- Results can guide the development of targeted interventions for victims of intimate partner violence.
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