Relationship violence in young adulthood: A comparison of daters, cohabitors, and marrieds

Abstract

Intimate partner violence is most common in early adulthood. A key developmental task of young adulthood is the formation of intimate partner relationships whether through dating, cohabitation, or marriage. Using the first and third waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we examine the linkages between relationship type and relationship violence perpetration and victimization among young adults, emphasizing the mediating role of relationship commitment. Among women, cohabitors report significantly higher levels of relationship violence than either marrieds or daters. Among men, cohabitors and marrieds report similar levels of relationship violence and both groups experience more violence perpetration and victimization than daters. Our hypothesis that the weaker relationship commitment of cohabitors accounts for their higher levels of violence is not supported.