Relationships Among Dispositional Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, and Women’s Dating Violence Perpetration: A Path Analysis

Abstract

Scant research examined mechanisms underlying the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and dating violence (DV) perpetration. Using a cross-sectional design with 203 college women, we examined whether distress tolerance mediated the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and DV perpetration (i.e., psychological aggression and physical assault). Path analyses results revealed indirect effects of mindfulness facets nonjudging of inner experiences and nonreactivity to inner experiences on both psychological aggression and physical assault through distress tolerance. Mindfulness facets observing, describing, and acting with awareness were not linked to DV perpetration through distress tolerance. Results suggest that women who allow internal experiences to come and go without assigning criticism or avoidance are better able to tolerate transient distress and less likely to abuse a dating partner. Future research may examine distress tolerance and dispositional mindfulness facets as potential intervention targets for women who abuse dating partners.

A Short-Term Longitudinal Investigation of the Relationship Between Trait Mindfulness and Female-Perpetrated Dating Violence

“…That is, it seems likely that in reacting to emotional states, particularly negative ones that precede or coincide with relationship aggression, individuals may engage in destructive behaviors, including aggression. While not directly predicted by our hypotheses, it is not inconsistent with other recent research in IPV suggesting a relationship between physical IPV perpetration and nonjudging (Brem et al, 2019). These data also suggested that nonjudging was related to lower levels of both physical and psychological perpetration through distress tolerance, which has been linked to IPV (Brem et al, 2019; Shorey et al, 2017).…”

“…While not directly predicted by our hypotheses, it is not inconsistent with other recent research in IPV suggesting a relationship between physical IPV perpetration and nonjudging (Brem et al, 2019). These data also suggested that nonjudging was related to lower levels of both physical and psychological perpetration through distress tolerance, which has been linked to IPV (Brem et al, 2019; Shorey et al, 2017).…”

“…Other researchers have found that anger management mediated the relationship between the mindfulness facets, act with awareness and nonreactivity, and both physical and psychological aggression perpetration (Shorey, Seavey, et al, 2014). In addition, mindfulness moderated the relationship between perceived partner infidelity and female dating violence perpetration (Brem et al, 2019), as well as the relationship between alcohol consumption and sexual aggression perpetration (Gallagher et al, 2010). Thus, future research should further examine the role of mindfulness as a potential moderating variable as well as potential mediators of the mindfulness-aggression association.…”

“…Data have demonstrated that deficits within particular facets of mindfulness, specifically act with awareness and nonreactivity, were linked to increased female physical and psychological violence perpetration (Shorey, Larson, et al, 2014), and differentiated perpetrators and non-perpetrators. In addition, researchers found that anger management mediates the relationship between act with awareness and nonreactivity and female violence perpetration (Shorey, Seavey, Quinn, & Cornelius, 2014), and females high in nonreactivity and nonjudging of inner experiences appear to be better equipped to tolerate distress and less likely to perpetrate physical or psychological intimate partner aggression (Brem et al, 2019). There are also data to suggest that dispositional mindfulness moderated the relationship between perceived partner infidelity and female physical IPV perpetration (Brem et al, 2015).…”

The Role of Impulsivity Dimensions in the Relation Between Probable Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Aggressive Behavior Among Substance Users

“…Two factors worth examining in this regard are emotion dysregulation and distress intolerance, both of which have been found to be associated with PTSD (e.g., Marshall-Berenz, Vujanovic, Bonn-Miller, Bernstein, & Zvolensky, 2010; Weiss, Tull, Anestis, et al, 2013) and aggressive behaviors (e.g., Brem et al, in press; Gratz, Paulson, Jakupcak, & Tull, 2009). Of note, whereas negative urgency has some overlap with emotion dysregulation and distress intolerance, there are important distinctions between these constructs.…”