title: Examining the correlates of psychological aggression among a community sample of couples.
abstract: In this study, the authors examined the correlates of psychological aggression victimization and perpetration among a community sample of 145 heterosexual couples. For both women and men, psychological aggression victimization was associated with greater psychological distress, anxiety, and physical health symptoms beyond the effects of physical aggression. Psychological aggression victimization was also uniquely associated with higher levels of depression for women. Trait anger and poor relationship adjustment were the strongest correlates of psychological aggression perpetration across genders. Childhood father-to-child and father-to-mother aggressions were associated with psychological aggression perpetration for men only, suggesting possible distinct etiologies across genders. These data highlight the importance of the further development of models for psychological aggression in both women and men.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Science Division, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, VA Boston Healthcare System, Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. casey.taft@va.gov
authors.forename: Casey T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Taft
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: O'Farrell
authors.forename: Sandra E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Jillian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Panuzio
authors.forename: Candice M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Monson
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000786:Anger; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012307:Risk Factors; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013223:Statistics as Topic