Abstract
The prediction of husband-to-wife physical aggression was examined in a sample of 94 community couples in which the husband had engaged in at least one act of physical aggression toward his partner during the engagement period. Predictors were measured approximately one month prior to marriage, and physical aggression was assessed again at 6, 18, and 30 months postmarriage. Over seventy-six percent of the men who were physically aggressive during the engagement period were physically aggressive at one or more of the next three assessments across the initial 30 months of marriage. Nearly 62% were severely aggressive at one or more assessments. Results were generally supportive of the hypothesis that risk factors for persistent antisocial behavior would predict the persistence of aggression. More frequent physical partner aggression, aggressive personality styles, general aggression, and witnessing interparental aggression in the family of origin were associated with continued aggression. Only general aggression, and premarital physical aggression predicted the persistence of severe aggression.
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Portions of the findings reported in this manuscript were presented at the34th Annual Meeting of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, New Orleans, LA (November, 2000).
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Lorber, M.F., O’Leary, K.D. Predictors of the Persistence of Male Aggression in Early Marriage. J Fam Viol 19, 329–338 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-004-0678-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-004-0678-5