Examinations of links between plant-based diet and indices of physical and mental health have received increased attention in the scientific literature in recent years. However, there has been little to no published research examining associations between plant-based diet and use of aggressive behavior. The current study examined the link between a plant-based diet and partner aggression in a nationally representative United States sample of 1,763 individuals while controlling for childhood trauma and partner aggression victimization. Results indicated that while a plant-based diet was associated with greater use of relationship aggression at the bivariate level, this association did not remain significant when accounting for childhood trauma and aggression victimization. These results suggest the importance of considering the role of trauma and victimization when examining links between plant-based diet and aggression, and point to a number of possible avenues for additional investigation to better understand these associations.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health concern, leading to prevention efforts focused on identifying risk indicators of escalating conflict between partners. Certain behaviors during conflict discussions have been uniquely linked to IPV, and there is evidence that disengagement behaviors—an emerging construct—are associated with IPV as well. However, research on disengagement and IPV has largely been limited to self-report, and available observational research is largely cross-sectional. Addressing these limitations, this study prospectively examined the association between observed disengagement behaviors during couple’s conflict discussions and IPV 1 year later, using a sample of 83 heterosexual married or cohabitating partners. Behavioral coding was used to assess each partner’s observed disengagement behaviors and each partner’s psychological and physical IPV was assessed via questionnaire 1 year later. Linear regressions were used to investigate links between indicators of engagement (i.e., listening, questions, eye contact) and psychological and physical IPV perpetration and victimization. Less question asking and higher eye contact by women were associated with greater psychological and physical IPV perpetrated by both women and men 1 year later. Lower listening behaviors by women were associated with greater psychological (but not physical) IPV perpetrated by men 1 year later. In contrast, no disengagement behaviors displayed by men were significantly related to IPV. Applying a latent change score framework using baseline IPV data, findings indicated replicability of results, though with less consistency, suggesting that women’s disengagement behaviors may reflect a larger pattern of abuse that predates and follows disengaged couple interactions. Findings suggest that a unique blend of verbal and nonverbal indicators of women’s disengagement during couple conflict provides a meaningful signal of the emotional climate of the relationship.