Dating Aggression in Emerging Adulthood: Interactions Between Relationship Processes and Individual Vulnerabilities

Abstract

The current study examined the roles of relationship processes and individual vulnerabilities in predicting dating aggression perpetration during emerging adulthood. Drawing from the contextual-situational model of courtship aggression (CSM; Riggs & O'Leary, 1989), as well as other theoretical models of close relationships, we hypothesized that individuals' depressive symptoms and attitudes condoning aggression would moderate the link between the perceived relationship bond and partner aggression perpetration. Using a multi-method, multiinformant approach with college dating couples, we found that highly aggressive couples (n = 23) differed from moderately (n = 27) and nonaggressive couples (n = 15) in having lower perceived relationship bonds, lower female relationship satisfaction, more female depression, and higher male attitudes condoning aggression. Among the 50 physically aggressive couples, a lower perceived relationship bond interacted with symptoms of depression to predict higher levels of psychological and physical aggression perpetration, and higher attitudes condoning aggression further exacerbated the risk for men's physical aggression perpetration only. These associations remained even after controlling for self-reported relationship satisfaction and aggression victimization. Findings from this study are consistent with the CSM and suggest that a lower perceived relationship bond, particularly in combination with symptoms of depression and attitudes condoning aggression, place men and women at increased risk for dating aggression perpetration during emerging adulthood.