title: Generalized versus spouse-specific anger/hostility and men's violence against intimates.
abstract: The present study examined the extent to which generalized versus spouse-specific anger/hostility was associated with partner violence in 263 men seeking conjoint marital therapy. Clinic men were classified as nonviolent (NV), moderately violent (MV), and severely violent (SV). A community comparison group of relationship-satisfied, non-violent men (CO) was also included. All clinic men reported higher levels of generalized and spouse-specific anger, spouse-specific aggression/hostility, depressive symptomatology and lower spouse-specific assertiveness than community men. SV men reported higher levels of spouse-specific anger/hostility, relationship discord, depressive symptomatology, and lower general problem-solving ability than NV men. Regression analyses confirmed that spouse-specific anger/hostility, low problem-solving ability, and relationship discord were significant predictors of men's violence. Overall, generalized anger and hostility were not unique predictors of men's violence against intimates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University at Stony Brook, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vivian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger; D005260:Female; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008388:Marital Therapy; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011340:Problem Solving; D011594:Psychometrics; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*