Is Psychological Aggression as Detrimental as Physical Aggression? The Independent Effects of Psychological Aggression on Depression and Anxiety Symptoms

Abstract

The differential effects of psychological and physical victimization on depression and anxiety symptoms were examined via APIM and growth curve modeling techniques in a sample of newlyweds (N = 103 couples) assessed four times over the first 3 years of marriage. On average, husbands and wives reported moderate levels of psychological aggression, and there were no sex differences in prevalence rates or mean levels. Changes in psychological victimization were associated with changes in depression and anxiety symptoms, even after controlling for the effects of physical victimization. This study demonstrates the severe impact of psychological aggression on its victims and expands on previous studies of battering samples to demonstrate that psychological victimization may be more damaging than physical victimization in nonbattering, community couples.

Relationship Satisfaction Mediates the Link Between Partner Aggression and Relationship Dissolution

“…In summary, this study highlights the importance of considering both psychological and physical partner aggression when conducting research on couple relationships, especially among nonbattering couples (Lawrence et al, 2009). Furthermore, the findings demonstrate the relation between partner aggression and relationship dissolution risk, and how relationship satisfaction accounts for these associations in moderately aggressive couples.…”

Stalking in College Student Dating Relationships: A Descriptive Investigation

“…On the other hand, psychological aggression consists of behaviors that occur during interactions between partners and are often directly observable. For instance, Lawrence et al (2009) define psychological aggression as Bbehaviors such as ridiculing, verbal threats, isolating one's partner from family and friends, and attempting to control one's partner, and are intended to degrade one's partner and attack his or her self-worth by making him or her feel guilty, upset, or inadequate^(p. 20). Thus, while there is conceptual overlap between some stalking behaviors and psychological aggression (e.g., verbal threats), they are distinct types of aggression that can occur in the context of current or previous intimate relationships.…”

The Gender Paradigm in Family Court Processes: Re-balancing the Scales of Justice From Biased Social Science

“…(Received psychological aggression, however, predicted higher levels of depression for women, but not for men.) Lawrence, Yoon, Langer, and Ro (2009) administered the CTS2 and the Multidimensional Measure Emotional Abuse Scale 4 times to 103 young Midwestern couples during the first 3 years of marriage. Associations were found between psychological victimization and anxiety and depression for males as well as females, with no significant differences in effects across gender.…”