title: A mixed-methodological examination of investment model variables among abused and nonabused college women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed abused and nonabused women's perceptions of Investment Model (IM) variables (ie, relationship investment, satisfaction, commitment, quality of alternatives) utilizing a mixed-methods design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants included 102 college women, approximately half of whom were in abusive dating relationships.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative content analyses were used to analyze transcribed responses to open-ended questions about abused and nonabused women's perceptions of IM variables. These coding categories were compared with a quantitative measure of IM variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, abused and nonabused women were not found to differ on qualitative or quantitative measures with regard to overall level of commitment, investment, or perceived alternatives to their relationships. However, abused women reported lower levels of satisfaction, and listed more negative aspects of their relationships than nonabused women. Additionally, a number of factors were identified by women to affect their perceptions of these IM variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Victims of dating violence may minimize the abuse sustained in efforts to maintain their relationships. Alternatively, dissonance between the positive and negative aspects of the relationships may drive ambivalence about leaving relationships, all of which could be addressed in dating violence prevention and intervention programming on campuses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701, USA. cd126408@ohio.edu
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Dardis
authors.forename: Erika L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: Katie M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gidycz
mesh_terms: D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D015146:Midwestern United States; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*