The Effects of Intimate Partner Violence on Relationship Satisfaction Over Time for Young At-Risk Couples: The Moderating Role of Observed Negative and Positive Affect.
In the current study, the moderating effects of observed negative and positive affects on the association between intimate partner violence (IPV, physical aggression) and relationship satisfaction were examined over a 5-year period. Multiwave data were obtained from a sample of young-adult men at risk for delinquency and their women partners (n = 121 couples; ages 21-26 years). The trajectory of each partner's relationship satisfaction and the effects of dyadic IPV and affect were tested using HLM analyses and a two-level (within-couple and between-couple) dyadic growth model. Average levels of dyadic positive affect were associated with relationship satisfaction for both men and women. For men, increases in couples' positive affect over time were linked to increases in relationship satisfaction, and increases in couples' externalizing negative affect were linked to decreases in satisfaction. For women, higher levels of couple IPV predicted lower levels of satisfaction. Couples' internalizing negative affect amplified the effects of IPV on satisfaction over time. Increases in IPV were associated with declines in satisfaction for couples with high levels of internalizing negative affect. Conversely, average levels of externalizing negative affect did not amplify the association between IPV and relationship satisfaction. In fact, the adverse influence of IPV on relationship satisfaction was greater for couples who displayed low levels of externalizing affect. Because of the inverse association between externalizing affect and relationship satisfaction, these findings were interpreted to suggest that the salience of IPV was greater in couples whose relationship satisfaction was not already impaired by high levels of negative affect.
Shortt
Joann Wu
JW
Oregon Social Learning Center.
Capaldi
Deborah M
DM
Kim
Hyoun K
HK
Laurent
Heidemarie K
HK
J Pers Soc Psychol. 2008 Jul;95(1):166-80
18605858
J Consult Clin Psychol. 2005 Feb;73(1):28-37
15709829
J Fam Psychol. 2007 Jun;21(2):236-47
17605546
J Fam Psychol. 2008 Oct;22(5):794-7
18855516
J Fam Psychol. 2008 Aug;22(4):595-604
18729673
J Marriage Fam. 2007 Feb;69(1):55-72
17372624
J Marriage Fam. 2007 May 1;69(2):275-292
19890466
J Marriage Fam. 2008 Nov 21;70(2):1122-1135
19587840
Violence Vict. 2004 Feb;19(1):3-16
15179743
J Adolesc. 2008 Dec;31(6):815-35
18164053
J Fam Psychol. 2006 Mar;20(1):12-20
16569085
J Fam Psychol. 2006 Dec;20(4):624-31
17176197
Violence Vict. 1996 Winter;11(4):371-92
9210278
J Pers Soc Psychol. 1986 Dec;51(6):1173-82
3806354
J Consult Clin Psychol. 1989 Apr;57(2):263-8
2785126
J Fam Psychol. 2005 Mar;19(1):98-110
15796656
J Marriage Fam. 2008 Dec;70(5):1169-1187
19122790
J Fam Psychol. 2005 Jun;19(2):180-8
15982093
J Fam Psychol. 2004 Mar;18(1):82-96
14992612
Violence Vict. 1996 Winter;11(4):355-70
9210277
J Consult Clin Psychol. 2008 Oct;76(5):756-68
18837593
J Interpers Violence. 2006 Feb;21(2):262-75
16368765