Can Emerging Adults’ Dating Psychological Aggression be Explained by Family-of-Origin Psychological Aggression, Emotion Dysregulation, and Drinking?

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) impacts the lives of millions of individuals; nearly 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men report experiencing IPV during their lifetime. Previous studies frequently cite family-of-origin aggression as a risk factor for later experiences with IPV. Research with adults who engage in IPV finds an association with childhood exposure to family violence, but the strength of that association may vary. Psychological aggression often pre-dates more severe IPV and college students are a particular risk group for IPV. Additionally, previous literature has revealed gender differences in response to childhood experiences of family violence. As such, the current study sought to identify factors that explain and moderate risk for dating psychological aggression (DPA) in college adults, and sex differences in those associations. Participants (464 women, 142 men), who were in a current romantic relationship lasting at least 3 months, completed measures of past psychological aggression in the family-of-origin (PAF), current emotion dysregulation, risky drinking, and DPA perpetrated in current dating relationships. Emotion dysregulation mediated the relationship between PAF and current DPA; however, differences among specific types of PAF and sex were noted. Results support an intergenerational transmission of PAF and suggest that parent–child sex dyads influence this process. The findings also provide evidence that higher levels of drinking are associated with increased emotion dysregulation. These results contrast with the alcohol expectancy for stress relief and support public messaging that alcohol use does not relieve stress. Clinical and research implications for prevention of the intergenerational transmission of aggression are discussed.

The regulation of emotions and problematic alcohol use: a review of literature

“…As highlighted by the researchers, in addition, parental knowledge (i.e., knowledge of the child's friends, whereabouts and activities) as measured by the nine-item parenting questionnaire (Alabama Parenting Questionnaire 9 -APQ-9) protected the subjects from progression from experimental to problematic alcohol use [35]. Correlations between emotional dysregulation and drinking behaviour have also been observed in other populations, including 9/11 New York Two Towers survivors [36], perpetrators of relationship violence [37] and HIV-infected individuals [38]. It has also been observed that difficulties in emotion regulation and goal focus may contribute to higher rates of alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic [39].…”

“…Korelację pomiędzy dysregulacją emocjonalną a zachowaniami związanymi z piciem alkoholu obserwowano także w innych populacjach, m.in. u osób, które przeżyły atak na nowojorskie wieże z 11 września 2001 r. [36], sprawców przemocy w relacjach partnerskich [37] czy osób zarażonych HIV [38]. Obserwowano również, że trudności w regulacji emocji i w koncentrowaniu się na celu mogły przyczyniać się do częstszego sięgania po alkohol podczas pandemii COVID-19 [39].…”

The impact of social support and emotion dysregulation on COVID-19 depressive symptoms

“…Based on physiological and neural indicators of emotion regulation, the DERS total score represents a reliable global index of overall ED (Gratz et al, 2006;John and Eng, 2014). The DERS demonstrates high internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.77 to 0.93 (Gratz and Roemer, 2004;Dhruve and Oliveros, 2022). Conversely, discriminant validity evidence for the DERS subscales is limited (John and Eng, 2014).…”