Does the Digital Environment Evoke Anxiety Cycles in Romantic Relationships? The Roles of Social–Interpersonal and Individual Factors in Cyberdating Abuse Perpetration

Abstract

Cyberdating abuse (CDA) is a complex phenomenon with detrimental consequences for well-being. Previous literature has shown that romantic anxious attachment schemes lead to perpetration of CDA behaviors. However, less attention has been paid to examining factors moderating and mediating the effect of anxious attachment on CDA perpetration. Our research is pioneering in examining (a) the moderating role of gender and the heterosexual script (HS; i.e., gender roles in heterosexual relationships) in the positive association between anxious attachment and CDA perpetration and (b) whether romantic anxious attachment indirectly influences CDA perpetration via electronic partner surveillance (EPS) and online jealousy. Across two cross-sectional studies (N = 698 young adults), we observed that high levels of anxious attachment predicted more frequent perpetration of direct cyberaggression against a partner in men with high HS adherence (vs. low HS), whereas this effect was not found among women. Additionally, we found that the positive association between anxious attachment and cybercontrol perpetration can be mediated through increases in EPS use and frequency of online jealousy. Our research contributes to a better understanding of some factors leading to CDA perpetration and may favor the development of CDA intervention programs based on the violence’s characteristics and gender norms.