College women's stay/leave decisions in abusive dating relationships: a prospective analysis of an expanded investment model.
The purpose of the current study was to explore college women's stay/ leave decisions in abusive relationships using a prospective methodology. Participants (N = 323) completed surveys at the beginning and end of a 10-week academic quarter for course credit. A path analysis suggested that the model-which included investment model variables (i.e., relationship commitment, investment, satisfaction, and quality of alternatives), childhood abuse, psychological distress, avoidance coping, and self-esteem-was a good fit to the data and predicted abused women's leaving behaviors over the interim. The implications of these findings for future research, theory, and clinical work are discussed.
Edwards
Katie M
KM
Ohio University, Athens OH 45701, USA. ke264505@ohio.edu
Gidycz
Christine A
CA
Murphy
Megan J
MJ
D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities