Physical aggression and marital dysfunction: A longitudinal analysis.

Abstract

Shortly after marriage, 56 couples provided data on physical aggression and other predictors of marital adjustment. At 6-month intervals over the next 4 years, spouses reported on their marital quality and stability. Results indicated that marital dysfunction was more common among aggressive than among nonaggressive couples (70% vs. 38%) and among severely aggressive than among moderately aggressive couples (93% vs. 46%). Aggression remained a reliable predictor of marital outcomes after the authors controlled for stressful events and negative communication. These findings help to refine developmental models of marital dysfunction, which often overlook the role of aggression, and can provide information for prevention programs for marital distress, which typically do not distinguish between aggressive and nonaggressive couples.

Partner aggression among men and women in substance use disorder treatment: Correlates of psychological and physical aggression and injury

“…For example, it is possible that those engaging in frequent physical aggression and injurious behavior were more likely to experience separation or dissolution of their relationship as either a consequence or cause of their behavior. This is in keeping with previous studies' findings that physical aggression is often related to separation, divorce or relationship dissolution (Lawrence and Bradbury, 2001;Kurz, 1996, Shortt et al, 2006. It also is possible that those in less stable relationships (suggested by not living with a partner), and/or who have multiple partners, may be more likely to engage in physical aggression and injurious behavior.…”

Differentiation and Intimate Partner Violence

“…Most of the studies on IPV have examined risk factors for physical IPV such as relational satisfaction and marital conflict (Cano & Vivian, 2003;Lawrence & Bradbury, 2001;Panuzio & DiLillo, 2010;Schumacher & Leonard, 2005;Stith et al, 2008;Stith at al., 2004b), romantic jealousy (Babcock, Costa, & Green, 2004;Barnett, Martinez, & Bluestein, 1995;Hannawa, Spitzberg, Wiering, & Teranishi, 2006;Wilson & Daly, 1998;, and depression and anxiety (Boyle & Vivian, 1996;Maiuro et al, 1988;Pan et al, 1994;Vivian & Malone 1997). However, little research existed on the relationship of differentiation of self and physical IPV.…”

“…While Stith and colleagues (2008) caution about a cause and effect relationship between these two variables, they provided evidence that such relationships exist. The relationship between IPV and relational dissatisfaction has been consistently evidenced by a number of longitudinal studies (Lawrence & Bradbury, 2001;Panuzio & DiLillo, 2010;Schumacher & Leonard, 2005). Lawrence and Bradbury (2001) revealed that wives in relationships where there was a presence of IPV in the past year were more likely to be maritally distressed and to experience severe relational dissatisfaction at some point over the following four years.…”

Co-Occurring ODD and GAD Symptom Groups: Source-Specific Syndromes and Cross-Informant Comorbidity

“…The MAT demonstrates adequate internal consistency; for instance, Grych, Harold, and Miles (2003) reported alphas of .83 and .84. The MAT reliably discriminates distressed from nondistressed couples (Grych et al, 2003;Lawrence & Bradbury, 2001) and is prospectively associated with physical aggression between partners (Lawrence & Bradbury, 2001). The MAT is associated with observed and reported conduct problems in clinic-referred children (Webster-Stratton, 1989), depression in this clinic-based sample (Drabick et al, 2006), and child self-blame and internalizing symptoms in a community sample of 11-to 12-year-old children (Grych et al, 2003).…”