title: Relation between social information processing and intimate partner violence in dating couples.
abstract: We used couple-level data to predict physical acts of intimate partner violence (IPV) from self-reported negative emotions and social information-processing (SIP) abilities among 100 dating couples (n = 200; mean age = 21.45 years). Participants read a series of hypothetical conflict situation vignettes and responded to questionnaires to assess negative emotions and various facets of SIP including attributions for partner behavior, generation of response alternatives, and response selection. We conducted a series of negative binomial mixed-model regressions based on the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM; Kenny, Kashy, & Cook, 2006, Dyadic data analysis. New York, NY: Guilford Press). There were significant results for the response generation and negative emotion models. Participants who generated fewer coping response alternatives were at greater risk of victimization (actor effect). Women were at greater risk of victimization if they had partners who generated fewer coping response alternatives (sex by partner interaction effect). Generation of less competent coping response alternatives predicted greater risk of perpetration among men, whereas generation of more competent coping response alternatives predicted greater risk of victimization among women (sex by actor interaction effects). Two significant actor by partner interaction effects were found for the negative emotion models. Participants who reported discrepant levels of negative emotions from their partners were at greatest risk of perpetration. Participants who reported high levels of negative emotions were at greatest risk of victimization if they had partners who reported low levels of negative emotions. This research has implications for researchers and clinicians interested in addressing the problem of IPV. Aggr. Behav. 43:329-341, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Newmarket, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Setchell
authors.affiliation: University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Patti Timmons
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Fritz
authors.affiliation: University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jillian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Glasgow
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D058445:Bullying; D003071:Cognition; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D000066511:Intimate Partner Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: dating aggression; dyadic; emerging adults; social information processing