title: A test of explanations for the effect of harsh parenting on the perpetration of dating violence and sexual coercion among college males.
abstract: This study uses structural equation modeling (SEM) with a sample of 760 college males to test various hypotheses regarding the avenues whereby harsh corporal punishment and a troubled relationship with parents increase the risk that a boy will grow up to engage in sexual coercion and dating violence. We found that three variables--a general antisocial orientation, sexually permissive attitudes, and believing that violence is a legitimate component of romantic relationships--mediated most of the association between negative parenting and our two outcomes. In addition to this indirect influence, we found that harsh corporal punishment had a direct effect upon dating violence. The findings are discussed with regard to various theoretical perspectives regarding the manner in which family of origin experiences increase the chances that a young man will direct violence toward a romantic partner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Family Development, University of Georgia, USA. lgsimons@uga.edu
authors.forename: Leslie Gordon
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Simons
authors.forename: Callie Harbin
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Burt
authors.forename: Ronald L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Simons
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D003068:Coercion; D003380:Courtship; D017579:Domestic Violence; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011678:Punishment; D011902:Rape; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires