Abstract
The present study examined the stability of young men’s intimate partner violence (IPV) over a 12-year period as a function of relationship continuity or discontinuity. Multiwave measures of IPV (physical and psychological aggression) were obtained from 184 men at risk for delinquency and their women partners. The effects of relationship continuity versus transitions on change in IPV were examined using multilevel analyses. In general, men’s IPV decreased over time. Men’s physical aggression in their early 20s predicted levels of physical aggression about 7 years later, and men’s psychological aggression in their early 20s predicted levels of psychological aggression about 10–12 years later. As hypothesized, higher stability in IPV was found for men who stayed with the same partners, whereas men experiencing relationship transitions showed greater change. The IPV of new partners was linked to the changes in men’s IPV that occurred with repartnering. There was less change in men’s IPV over time as men changed partners less frequently.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Babcock, J. C., Green, C. E., & Robie, C. (2004). Does batterers’ treatment work? A meta-analytic review of domestic violence treatment outcome research. Clinical Psychology Review, 23, 1023–1053.
Breiding, M. J., Black, M. C., & Ryan, G. W. (2008). Prevalence and risk factors of intimate partner violence in eighteen U.S. states/territories, 2005. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 34, 112–118.
Capaldi, D. M. (1991). Partner interaction questionnaire. Unpublished questionnaire. Eugene: Oregon Social Learning Center.
Capaldi, D. M. (1994). Dyadic social skills questionnaire. Unpublished questionnaire. Eugene: Oregon Social Learning Center.
Capaldi, D. M., & Crosby, L. (1995). Family and Peer Process (FPPC) Coder Impressions. Unpublished instrument. Eugene: Oregon Social Learning Center.
Capaldi, D. M., & Wilson, J. (1994). The partners interview. Unpublished questionnaire. Eugene: Oregon Social Learning Center.
Capaldi, D. M., Shortt, J. W., & Crosby, L. (2003). Physical and psychological aggression in at-risk young couples: Stability and change in young adulthood. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 49, 1–27.
Capaldi, D. M., Kim, H. K., & Shortt, J. W. (2004). Women’s involvement in aggression in young adult romantic relationships: A developmental systems model. In M. Putallez & K. L. Bierman (Eds.), Aggression, antisocial behavior, and violence among girls: A developmental perspective (pp. 223–241). New York: Guilford Press.
Capaldi, D. M., Shortt, J. W., & Kim, H. K. (2005). A life span developmental systems perspective on aggression toward a partner. In W. M. Pinsof & J. Lebow (Eds.), Family psychology: The art of the science (pp. 141–167). New York: Oxford University Press.
Capaldi, D. M., Kim, H. K., & Shortt, J. W. (2007). Observed initiation and reciprocity of physical aggression in young, at-risk couples. Journal of Family Violence, 22, 101–111.
Dutton, D. G., & Corvo, K. (2006). Transforming a flawed policy: A call to revive psychology and science in domestic violence research and practice. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 11, 457–483.
Ehrensaft, M. K. (2008). Intimate partner violence: Persistence of myths and implications for intervention. Children and Youth Services Review, 30, 276–286.
Feingold, A., Kerr, D. C. R., & Capaldi, D. M. (2008). Associations of substance use problems with intimate partner violence for at-risk men in long-term relationships. Journal of Family Psychology, 22, 429–438.
Fritz, P. A., & O’Leary, K. D. (2004). Physical and psychological partner aggression across a decade: A growth curve analysis. Violence and Victims, 19, 3–16.
Fritz, P. A. T., & Slep, A. M. S. (2009). Stability of physical and psychological adolescent dating aggression across time and partners. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 38, 303–314.
Hollingshead, A. B. (1975). Four factor index of social status. Unpublished manuscript. New Haven: Department of Sociology, Yale University.
Kessler, R. C. (1990). The national comorbidity survey. DIS Newsletter, 7(12), 1–2.
Kim, H. K., & Capaldi, D. M. (2004). The association of antisocial behavior and depressive symptoms between partners and risk for aggression in romantic relationships. Journal of Family Psychology, 18, 82–96.
Kim, H. K., Laurent, H. K., Capaldi, D. M., & Feingold, A. (2008). Men’s aggression toward women: A 10-year panel study. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 70, 1169–1187.
LaTaillade, J. J., Epstein, N. B., & Werlinich, C. A. (2006). Conjoint treatment of intimate partner violence: A cognitive behavioral approach. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly, 20, 393–410.
Lawrence, E., & Bradbury, T. N. (2001). Physical aggression and marital dysfunction: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Family Psychology, 15, 135–154.
Lawrence, E., Yoon, J., Langer, A., & Ro, E. (2009). Is psychological aggression as detrimental as physical aggression? The independent effects of psychological aggression on depression and anxiety symptoms. Violence and Victims, 24, 20–35.
Moffitt, T. E., Caspi, A., Rutter, M., & Silva, P. A. (2001). Sex, antisocial behavior, and mating: Mate selection and early childbearing. In T. E. Moffitt, A. Caspi, M. Rutter, & P. A. Silva (Eds.), Sex differences in antisocial behavior: Conduct disorder, delinquency, and violence in the Dunedin Longitudinal Study (pp. 184–197). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (1998–2007). Mplus user’s guide 5th edn. Los Angeles: Authors.
O’Leary, K. D. (2001). Psychological abuse: A variable deserving critical attention in domestic violence. In K. D. O’Leary & R. D. Maiuro (Eds.), Psychological abuse in violent domestic relations (pp. 3–28). New York: Springer.
O’Leary, S. G., & Slep, A. M. S. (2006). Precipitants of partner aggression. Journal of Family Psychology, 20, 344–347.
O’Leary, K. D., & Woodin, E. M. (2009). Psychological and physical aggression in couples: Causes and interventions. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Patterson, G. R. (1982). Coercive family process. Eugene, OR: Castalia.
Patterson, G. R., & Bank, L. (1986). Bootstrapping your way in the nomological thicket. Behavioral Assessment, 8, 49–73.
Schumacher, J. A., & Leonard, K. E. (2005). Husbands‘ and wives’ marital adjustment, verbal aggression, and physical aggression as longitudinal predictors of physical aggression in early marriage. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 28–37.
Shortt, J. W., Capaldi, D. M., Kim, H. K., & Owen, L. D. (2006). Relationship separation for young, at-risk couples: Prediction from dyadic aggression. Journal of Family Psychology, 20, 624–631.
Shortt, J. W., Capaldi, D. M., Kim, H. K., & Laurent, H. K. (2010). The effects of intimate partner violence on relationship satisfaction over time for young at risk couples: The moderating role of observed negative and positive affect. Partner Abuse, 1(2), 131–151.
Stith, S. M. (2006). Future directions in intimate partner violence prevention research. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, 13, 229–244.
Stith, S. M., & McCollum, E. E. (2009). Couples treatment for physical and psychological aggression. In D. K. O’Leary & E. M. Woodin (Eds.), Understanding psychological and physical aggression in couples: Existing evidence and clinical implications (pp. 233–250). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Straus, M. A. (1979). Measuring intrafamily conflict and violence: The Conflict Tactics (CT) Scale. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 41, 75–88.
Stubbs, J., Crosby, L., Forgatch, M., & Capaldi, D. M. (1998). Family and Peer Process Code: Training Manual: A Synthesis of Three OSLC Behavior Codes. Unpublished manual. Eugene: Oregon Social Learning Center.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the couples for their participation, Jane Wilson for coordinating the project, and Sally Schwader for editorial assistance. The project described was supported by Award Number R01 HD46364 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Institute of Drug Abuse. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Mental Health or National Institutes of Health.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shortt, J.W., Capaldi, D.M., Kim, H.K. et al. Stability of Intimate Partner Violence by Men across 12 Years in Young Adulthood: Effects of Relationship Transitions. Prev Sci 13, 360–369 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-011-0202-0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-011-0202-0