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Gainful Activity and Intimate Partner Aggression in Emerging Adulthood
Marta Alvira-Hammond1, Monica A Longmore1, Wendy D Manning1
1Department of Sociology and the Center for Family and Demographic Research Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH 43403.
Emerging Adulthood (Print)
|October 14, 2014
Summary
Young adults in school or employed reported less intimate partner aggression. Unemployment for both partners correlated with higher aggression, regardless of relationship type or gender.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Criminology
Background:
- Intimate partner aggression (IPA) affects all socioeconomic statuses, but education and income are key predictors.
- Emerging adulthood presents unique challenges in measuring socioeconomic status (SES) due to its transitional nature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between gainful activity (school enrollment or full-time employment) and IPA among young adults.
- To explore how SES indicators in emerging adulthood relate to relationship aggression.
Main Methods:
- Survey data from 648 young adults in dating, cohabiting, or married relationships.
- Self-reports of participation in gainful activity and frequency of intimate partner aggression were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Gainful activity for both men and women was negatively associated with intimate partner aggression.
- Higher frequencies of physical aggression were reported when neither partner was gainfully active.
- Partner's gender and union type did not significantly alter the association between gainful activity and IPA.
Conclusions:
- Gainful activity serves as a protective factor against intimate partner aggression in emerging adulthood.
- Socioeconomic engagement, rather than specific SES metrics, appears crucial in mitigating relationship aggression during this life stage.
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