Aggression Perpetration Research Articles

Associations between religiosity, aggression and crime: results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

To explore the association between religiosity, aggression (self- and other-directed) and law-breaking behaviors. We used data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) in the United States of America across 2008-2014, with a pooled sample of 270,227 adult respondents. We categorized respondents as religious if they considered religious beliefs to be important parts of their lives and/or to be influential in making decisions and/or if they considered it important that friends share their beliefs and/or if they reported attending at least one service over the past 12months. We used regression models to calculate the odds ratio for committing different forms of aggression and for breaking the law when measuring positively on religiosity and its parameters. More than 85% of our sample qualified as religious. A positive religiosity was correlated with a statistically significant lower risk of self-directed aggression [aOR = 0.83, 95% CI (0.69-0.99)]. Importance of religious beliefs and influence of religious beliefs were inversely correlated to perpetration of self-directed aggression [aOR = 0.81, 95% CI (0.70-0.95)] and [aOR = 0.82, 95% CI (0.70-0.96)], respectively. Positive religiosity was not significantly correlated to lower odds of other-directed aggression. All religiosity parameters were associated with significantly reduced odds of breaking the law, except for infrequent service attendance which was associated with a significantly higher risk of breaking the law [aOR = 1.07, 95% CI (1.03-1.12)]. Religiosity has components with a differential impact on aggressive and law-breaking behaviors. Future longitudinal studies are needed to analyze whether religiosity protects against suicidality and promotes pro-social actions.

Aggression begets aggression: Psychological dating aggression perpetration in young adults from the perspective of intergenerational transmission of violence

The aim of this study was threefold: (1) to evaluate the factorial validity of the Psychological Aggression (PA) subscale of the Conflict Tactics Scales–Adult Recall version (CTS2-CA), (2) to investigate the prevalence of and gender differences in psychological dating aggression perpetration (PDAP; restrictive engulfment, denigration, hostile withdrawal, and dominance/intimidation), and (3) to explore a proposed path from witnessing interparental psychological aggression perpetration to PDAP via acceptance of psychological aggression as a mediator and gender as a moderator of the mediation. For the first purpose, college students (N = 275) completed father to mother and mother to father forms of the PA subscale of the CTS2-CA. Exploratory factor analyses yielded a single-factor solution for the father to mother (55.86% of the variance) and mother to father (49.12% of the variance) forms. For the second and third purposes, a separate sample of 1015 dating college students (69.6% women) completed the Multidimensional Measure of Emotional Abuse and Abuse subscale of the Intimate Partner Violence Attitude Scale-Revised, along with the PA subscale of the CTS2-CA. Gender differences emerged in the prevalence of restrictive engulfment (85.8% for women and 80.3% for men) and hostile withdrawal (96.3% for women and 91.1% for men). Moderated-mediation analyses revealed that women college students who witnessed more mother to father psychological aggression perpetration tended to hold more accepting attitudes towards psychological aggression and, in turn, perpetrated more psychological aggression against their partners. Common assumptions that boys are more likely to imitate fathers, whereas girls are more likely to imitate mothers and women [but not men] commit verbal aggression may together explain our findings from the perspective of the intergenerational transmission of violence hypothesis. For future research, we suggest investigating the proposed model with the experience of psychological aggression from the parents to the child, which may provide further insights.

Callous-Unemotional Traits are Associated With Child-to-Parent Aggression.

This study examined the relations between callous-unemotional traits and perpetration of aggression toward parents in two separate studies, while also considering motivation for aggression and parenting styles experienced among young people. Study 1 involved 60 parents of children aged between 11 and 17 years old. The online study found high callous-unemotional traits, as reported by parents, to be associated with aggression toward both parents. Both types of motivation (proactive and reactive, as reported by parents) were associated with aggression toward parents. Study 2 involved 42 youths from an alternative education sample (between 11 and 16 years old). Youths with higher self-reported callous-unemotional traits reported more aggression toward both parents. Both studies, which had different reporters and different samples, showed youths with higher callous-unemotional traits were more aggressive toward their parents. In discussing the results, we note the importance of including callous-unemotional traits in future research on parent-directed aggression and in studies on domestic violence more broadly.

Dating Aggression and Observed Behaviors in a Nonconflictual Situation: The Role of Negative Anticipation.

Past observational studies highlight meaningful behavioral differences between aggressive and nonaggressive couples during conflict interactions. However, research is needed on how aggressive couples communicate in other, nonconflictual interactional contexts. This study investigates how dating partners’ perpetration of physical aggression relates to observed behaviors during a laboratory-based discussion during which dating couples planned a date together. We also investigated whether negative anticipation of the upcoming discussion influences dating partners’ observed behaviors. Results showed that perpetration of dating aggression from one partner is linked to more negative behaviors from the other partner during the discussion. This association, however, is moderated by negative anticipation of the discussion; the link between aggression from one’s partner and negative behaviors is significant at high levels (+1 SD) but not at low levels (–1 SD)of negative anticipation. One’s own dating aggression also relates to fewer positive behaviors during the discussion. Findings suggest that couple aggression spills over to and potentially degrades the discussion of even nonthreatening, potentially enjoyable communications. Results also underscore negative anticipation of an interaction as a potential risky process that increases the likelihood of antagonistic exchanges between partners. The discussion addresses putative pathways between partner aggression and generalized communication patterns, and potential bi-directional effects with negative anticipation. We also discuss practical implications and targets of intervention to counteract the establishment of problematic communication dynamics in young couples.

Prevalence of Sexual Aggression Victimization and Perpetration in a German University Student Sample

This study examined the prevalence of sexual aggression perpetration and victimization in a sample of 1,172 students (755 female, 417 male) from four universities in Germany. All participants were asked about both victimization by, and perpetration of, sexual aggression since the age of 14 years, using the Sexual Aggression and Victimization Scale (SAV-S). Prevalence rates were established for different coercive strategies, sexual acts, and victim–perpetrator relationships. Both same-sex and opposite-sex victim–perpetrator constellations were examined. The overall victimization rate was 62.1% for women and 37.5% for men. The overall perpetration rate was 17.7% for men and 9.4% for women. Prevalence rates of both victimization and perpetration were higher for participants who had sexual contacts with both opposite-sex and same-sex partners than for participants with exclusively opposite-sex partners. Significant overlap was found between victim and perpetrator status for men and women as well as for participants with only opposite-sex and both opposite-sex and same-sex partners. A disparity between (higher) victimization and (lower) perpetration reports was found for both men and women, suggesting a general underreporting of perpetration rather than a gendered explanation in terms of social desirability or the perception of consent cues. The findings are placed in the international research literature on the prevalence of sexual aggression before and after the #metoo campaign, and their implications for prevention efforts are discussed.

Predicting physical and verbal aggression perpetration among teenage boys: an application of the theory of planned behavior

PurposeAggression has been introduced as one of the serious problems in public health. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the ability of the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) to predict the physical and verbal aggression behavior.Design/methodology/approachIn this research, 462 teenagers were evaluated through the demographic questionnaire along with the main structures of the TPB as a predictor of behavior. After one month of follow-up, physical and verbal aggression was evaluated. Demographic data were analyzed descriptively by SPSS21 and predictability of the structures for intention and behavior of the physical and verbal aggression was analyzed by AMOS.FindingsMean and standard deviation of participants’ age were 14.70 and 1.12 years, respectively. In this research, 22.5% of the participants did not show physical aggression over the last one month and 20% of them did not show verbal aggression over the last month. Path analysis revealed that the variables of the TPB predicted 61% and 32% of variance of intention and physical aggression behavior, respectively, while these variables could describe 43% and 22% of the variance of intention and verbal aggression behavior, respectively. All of the concepts could be significant predictors of the behaviors. Subjective norms were the best predictor of the intention for physical and verbal aggression. Intention and perceived behavioral control were good predictors of physical and verbal aggression.Research limitations/implicationsGiven the role of subjective norms in intention and also the role of intention and perceived behavioral control of people for aggression, it can be concluded that emphasis on social and psychological education about subjective norms, peer groups and self-control can help reduce this problem.Originality/valueA few studies have predicted behavior occurrence in the future. Given the lack of focus on the role of constructs that may bring about future behaviors, the current research was conducted to use the structures of the TPB to predict behavioral intention as well as perpetration of physical and verbal aggressive behaviors, independently.

Male Barroom Aggression among Members of the Australian Construction Industry: Associations with Heavy Episodic Drinking, Trait Variables and Masculinity Factors.

Introduction and Aims: Past research indicates heavy episodic drinking (HED), trait aggression, male honour and conformity to masculine norms are risk factors for male barroom aggression (MBA) perpetration. However, little is known about the impact of these variables on experiences of MBA victimization. Further, data derived previously, particularly in relation to perpetration have come from relatively low-risk samples comprising university students, limiting the generalizability of findings to other, at-risk male groups. Thus, the present study assessed the impact of the aforementioned variables as well as personality constructs of impulsivity and narcissism on both the perpetration of and victimization from MBA among a high-risk sample sourced from male members of the Australian construction industry. Method: A purposive sample of Australian male construction workers aged 18 to 69 years (n = 476, Mage = 25.90, SDage = 9.44) completed individual interviews at their current place of employment or while training at various trade schools in Geelong and Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Items related to past month HED, past year experiences of verbal and physical MBA (perpetration and victimization), trait aggression’s four factors (physical, verbal, anger, hostility), impulsivity, narcissism, male honour and conformity to masculine norms. Results: Participants reported high levels of verbal (24.2%) and physical (21%) MBA perpetration and verbal (33.6%) and physical (31.1%) MBA victimization. Hierarchical binary logistic regression analyses identified HED as the strongest predictor of aggression involvement, while trait physical aggression, trait anger, narcissism and conformity to norms endorsing violence and a need to win were significantly and positively associated with MBA perpetration. Conclusions: The present study reinforces the key relationships between heavy drinking and aspects of personality and MBA, while also highlighting narcissism as a risk factor for barroom aggression perpetration. Indeed, personality profiles and HED appear to exert stronger influences on MBA perpetration than socially constructed masculinity factors, most of which were unrelated to aggression involvement in bars, clubs or pubs.

The victim-perpetrator asymmetry is stronger in situations where blame is being assigned

Aggressive behaviors occur when one person, a perpetrator, intentionally harms another person, a victim (e.g., Parrott & Giancola, 2007). When reporting their judgments, victims often report the aggressive behaviors as being more harmful than perpetrators—a so-called victim-perpetrator asymmetry. This asymmetry is well-established (Baumeister et al., 1990; Elshout et al., 2017; Ent & Parton, 2019; McCarthy & Rivers, 2021); however, there is little empirical evidence that experimentally tests the conditions under which the victim-perpetrator asymmetry is especially strong. We propose two studies to examine whether the victim-perpetrator asymmetry is stronger in conditions when people feel they will be evaluated for blameworthiness. Specifically, in our first proposed study, participants will read a vignette describing an aggressive interaction and will be assigned to adopt the perspective of either the victim or the perpetrator. In our second proposed study, participants will either recall an instance when they intentionally harmed another person (as the perpetrator of aggression) or an instance when they were harmed by another person (as the victim of aggression). Further, in both studies, half the participants will be told we are interested in determining who was more to blame in the situation (i.e., “blameworthiness” condition) and half will receive no such instructions (i.e., the control condition). All participants will then rate the harmfulness of the aggressive behavior. We hypothesize that the victim-perpetrator asymmetry will be found in both conditions but will be stronger in situations where blame will purportedly be assigned.

Psychological and Forensic Challenges Regarding Youth Consumption of Pornography: A Narrative Review

Nowadays, technology has become part of the daily activities of a large part of the population. Many of the activities and development and socialization processes of minors and young people have been transferred to the online world, generating attention and concern from the educational, scientific, and forensic communities. One of the most worrying issues derived from this new online world is the consumption of pornography by teens. The objective of this literature review is to draw attention to the consequences and emotional disturbances derived from the consumption of pornography in young people, as well as the forensic implications of this phenomenon, among which are paraphilias, perpetration, and victimization of sexual assaults, and the development of new forms of online sexual victimization. The main findings suggest that the first contact with pornography starts at the age of 8 years old, with important behavioral and psychological consequences, such as hypersexualization, emotional disturbances, and the perpetuation of gender inequality. Furthermore, pornography consumption by youth has been linked to the exacerbation of paraphilias, an increase in sexual aggression perpetration and victimization, and, finally, it has been linked to an increase in online sexual victimization. Implications and future lines of research are discussed.

Tired and angry: Sleep, mental health, and workplace relational aggression

ABSTRACT Workplace relational aggression incurs substantial costs to organizations in the form of reduced employee effectiveness and can exact a personal toll on the targets of the aggression. The extant literature contains limited studies related to physiological variables in predicting the perpetration of workplace relational aggression. Using survey data from a large US military sample (N = 2290), this research tested a hypothesized indirect effects model of sleep and relational aggression against unit members. Results suggest that subjective sleep duration and discontinuity are associated indirectly with perpetrating relational aggression against unit members through higher levels of poor mental health symptoms. Moreover, this association was more robust at higher versus lower levels of trait anger. This research is among the first to examine sleep disturbance or mental health as potential upstream factors associated with instigating relational aggression in the workplace. This is also among the first scientific studies on perpetrating relational aggression against unit members in the US military.

Predicting Different Types of Intimate Partner Aggression Perpetration: The Roles of Problem Alcohol Use and Distress Tolerance.

Intimate partner aggression (IPA) victimization and substance use have been well established as risk factors for IPA perpetration (Leonard, 2005; Sprunger et al., 2015). Recent research has identified a negative association between distress tolerance and physical and psychological IPA perpetration, specifically in males in substance use treatment (Shorey et al., 2017). Research examining the interplay of problem substance use, distress tolerance, and other forms of IPA (i.e., sexual coercion, controlling behaviors) in non-clinical samples is limited. The present analysis aimed to examine the potential moderating effect of distress tolerance on problem alcohol use and four types of IPA perpetration (physical assault, psychological aggression, sexual coercion, and controlling behaviors) in a diverse, national sample (N = 323; 44.3% female; 52.9% sexual minority; age M = 33.61 years, SD = 8.71). Results showed that alcohol use and distress tolerance had differing influences on each IPA perpetration type. In line with hypotheses, distress tolerance significantly moderated the relationship between problem alcohol use and two forms of IPA (physical assault and controlling behaviors); this relationship was stronger for individuals with low levels of distress tolerance. Significant interaction effects did not emerge for psychological aggression or sexual coercion. Findings suggest that treatment strategies that focus specifically on increasing distress tolerance may be effective in reducing alcohol-facilitated IPA perpetration involving physical assault and controlling behaviors.

Was that (cyber)bullying? Investigating the operational definitions of bullying and cyberbullying from adolescents’ perspective

Background/Objective: Despite the great interest that bullying and cyberbullying have received during the last decades, the problem of defining these phenomena is still debated. Recently, this discussion has also been articulated in terms of how young people who are directly involved in bullying and cyberbullying understand these notions. This study aimed at investigating the operational definitions of both bullying and cyberbullying provided by adolescent victims and perpetrators, by inquiring the weight of traditional criteria (i.e., frequency, deliberateness, imbalance of power, and harm) as well as dominance in the perception of these phenomena. Method: A total of 899 students aged between 11 and 16 years filled out the Student Aggression and Victimisation Questionnaire. Results: Common traits and differences between the operational definition of bullying and cyberbullying and between the perspectives of victims and perpetrators of aggression were found. The most relevant criterion for the perception of both these phenomena was clearly the presence of dominance. By contrast, the imbalance of power showed no significant relationship with the perception of being bullied or bullying others both offline and online. Conclusions: Findings emphasise that young people conceptualise bullying with a clear reference to relational and group processes, rather than to individual differences.

Dating Violence Among Rural Adolescents: Perpetration and Victimization by Gender.

Adolescent dating violence (ADV) is a serious concern with various negative impacts on adolescent development. Research on ADV has predominantly been conducted in urban areas and has generally focused on physical and sexual forms of violence. The purpose of this study was to assess prevalence rates of various forms of ADV by gender in the rural context. A convenience sample of rural adolescents responded to an online survey. In total, 131 responses were used for this study. Participants reported perpetration and victimization experiences of physical abuse, sexual abuse, threatening behavior, relational aggression, verbal abuse, and cyber dating abuse. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analyses were used to determine gender differences in proportion and frequency of ADV. Results reveal that various forms of ADV are occurring in the rural context, with many of both males and females reporting perpetration and victimization. Overall, verbal and cyber ADV are the most common. Gender analysis reveals that males were significantly more likely to be victimized by physical abuse victimization, whereas females were significantly more likely to be victimized by sexual abuse. Though the proportion of adolescents reporting ADV were high in this study, most participants reported lower frequencies of ADV. Results support the urgent need in rural areas for education and prevention that target physical, sexual, and psychological components of healthy relationships. Rural dating violence prevention efforts must emphasize the importance of mutual respect across gender, rather than solely presenting this lesson to males in a traditional gendered manner. Results also suggest the need for rural areas to adopt comprehensive sex education that details sexual relationships that are consensual and healthy.

Pathological personality, relationship satisfaction, and intimate partner aggression: Analyses using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, alternative model of personality disorder traits.

Personality disorders (PDs) have been linked to lower levels of marital satisfaction and the perpetration of intimate partner aggression (IPA). Much of this work has used self-reports of PD symptoms conceptualized via the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder's (DSM) categorical approach. The current study adds to the literature by examining how marital satisfaction and IPA are associated with a dimensional assessment of PDs, specifically by conceptualizing PDs using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Section III alternative model of personality disorder. By collecting data from both partners in a sample of newlywed couples, we also leverage PD trait agreement between (a) both partner's own self-reports (similarity), (b) self- and spouse report (accuracy), and (c) self and ratings of partner (perceptual similarity), to examine couple-level predictors of relationship well-being (i.e., satisfaction and psychological/physical IPA). Data were drawn from a sample of 101 newly married couples who participated in baseline and follow-up data collection over a period of 12 months. Actor-partner interdependence analyses revealed significant self-report actor and partner effects on marital satisfaction and psychological and physical IPA; for spouse report, actor effects were more consistent than partner reports. Agreement was moderate for both similarity and accuracy, but greater agreement was related to greater relationship satisfaction, particularly at later time points. Thus, although reports of elevated personality pathology are detrimental to marital functioning, spousal agreement may protect against these effects. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Alcohol-related relationship dissatisfaction: A putative mechanism for intimate partner aggression.

Decades of research has identified alcohol use as a contributing cause of intimate partner aggression (IPA) perpetration; however, there have been fewer studies that seek to identify mediators of the relation between alcohol use and IPA perpetration. Building on research showing a positive association between problematic drinking and relationship dissatisfaction and relationship dissatisfaction and IPA, we examined whether relationship dissatisfaction accounted for the relation between problematic drinking and IPA perpetration in couples using statistical modeling that accounted for the interdependence between partners. Our results showed that (a) actor problematic drinking was related to actor psychological and physical IPA perpetration and that this relation was partially explained by actor relationship dissatisfaction, (b) partner problematic drinking was related to actor physical and psychological IPA perpetration and that this relation was partially explained by actor relationship dissatisfaction, and (c) partner problematic drinking was related to actor psychological IPA perpetration and that this relation was partially explained by partner relationship dissatisfaction. Together, our results highlight that when partner interdependence is considered, relationship dissatisfaction could be a potential mechanism of the alcohol-IPA association and provide some evidence for different pathways for psychological and physical aggression. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

The Impact of Parental Factors on Physical Aggression Perpetration among Turkish Urban Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Beliefs Supporting Aggression.

This study investigated parental factors and beliefs supporting aggression as predictors of physical aggression by adolescents. The participants were 2,443 junior high school students from Ankara, Turkey, who completed measures of parental support for aggression, family conflict, parental monitoring, beliefs supporting aggression, and physical aggression. The findings showed both direct and indirect effects of parental factors on physical aggression through beliefs supporting aggression. Furthermore, a multigroup model comparison indicated invariance of the structural relationships among variables in the model across gender and that the hypothesized structural model was a close fit for both the girl and the boy data. The findings suggest that it might be beneficial to consider beliefs supporting aggression and parental factors as risk factors when designing interventions to target physical aggression among adolescents.

Predicting rape events: The influence of intimate partner violence history, condom use resistance, and heavy drinking.

Sexual aggression perpetration is a public health epidemic, and burgeoning research aims to delineate risk factors for individuals who perpetrate completed rape. The current study investigated physical and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) history, coercive condom use resistance (CUR), and heavy episodic drinking (HED) as prospective risk factors for rape perpetration. Young adult men (N = 430) ages 21-30 completed background measures as well as follow-up assessments regarding rape events perpetrated over the course of 3 months. Negative binomial regression with log link function was utilized to examine whether these risk factors interacted to prospectively predict completed rape. There was a significant interaction between physical IPV and HED predicting completed rape; men with high HED and greater physical IPV histories perpetrated more completed rapes during follow-up than men with low HED at the same level of physical IPV. Moreover, psychological IPV and coercive CUR interacted to predict completed rape such that men with high coercive CUR and greater psychological IPV histories perpetrated more completed rapes throughout the follow-up period than men with low coercive CUR at the same level of psychological IPV. Findings suggest targets for intervention efforts and highlight the need to understand the topography of different forms of aggression perpetration.

The role of empathy and social anxiety in Latinx adolescents' indirect peer aggression during the transition to high school.

The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between decreased empathy (i.e., cognitive and affective) and indirect and cyber peer aggression among Latinx adolescents during their transition to high school. Further, we examined the degree to which social anxiety moderated this relationship. Participants were 469 Latinx ninth graders, ages 13-17 years (M = 14.52, SD = 0.58; 58% girls). Adolescents completed the Revised Peer Experiences Questionnaire, Cyber Peer Experiences Questionnaire, Basic Empathy Scale, and Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents at two different time points, 3 months apart. Hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed concurrent and prospective relationships between lower cognitive empathy and the perpetration of both indirect and cyber aggression. In addition, social anxiety moderated the concurrent associations between both types of empathy and both types of aggression perpetration. Results suggest that interventions that facilitate cognitive empathy and decrease social anxiety may help to reduce adolescents' indirect and cyber aggression toward peers throughout the high school transition.

Prevalence and correlates of interpersonal violence among in-school adolescents in Tanzania

The study aimed to assess the prevalence and correlates of interpersonal violence (physical attacks and physical fighting) among school-going adolescents in Tanzania. We analysed an existing data set of 3 765 adolescent learners (mean age = 14 years, SD = 1. 7 years) by the Global School-based Student Health Survey in 2014. Results indicate that 53.1% of the students reported experiencing physical attack (54.4% in boys and 51.6% in girls) and 29.9% had engaged in a physical fight the past 12 months (29.3% in boys and 29.7% in girls). In adjusted logistic regression analyses, school truancy, bullying victimisation, and injury were associated with physical attack experience. Being younger and self-reporting health risk beahviours such as sedentary behaviour, current tobacco use, consumption of soft drinks, bullying victimisation, and injury were associated with involvement in physical fights. Preventive interpersonal violence interventions with adolescent school learners should seek to address both physical aggression survivorship and perpetration.

Emotion Dysregulation as a Moderator of the Association Between Relationship Dependency and Female-Perpetrated Dating Aggression.

The dependency-possessiveness model proposes that individuals who are highly dependent on their intimate partner and fear partner abandonment, particularly among those with emotion dysregulation problems, may be at heightened risk for intimate partner aggression (IPA) perpetration. Despite prior research establishing a link between relationship dependency and male IPA perpetration, it is unknown whether this association extends to female-perpetrated aggression, occurs in dating relationships, and is moderated by emotion dysregulation. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to investigate the association between relationship dependency and female-perpetrated dating aggression and determine if emotion dysregulation moderated this hypothesized relationship. Female undergraduate students (N = 119) completed measures assessing relationship dependency, emotion dysregulation, and female-perpetrated physical and psychological dating aggression as part of a larger study investigating the context of dating aggression episodes. Anxious attachment was significantly correlated with female-perpetrated psychological and physical dating aggression. Regression analyses indicated a significant interaction between the Spouse-Specific Dependency Scale [SSDS] Anxious Attachment subscale and emotion dysregulation predicting female-perpetrated physical dating aggression, suggesting moderation. There was a positive association between anxious attachment relationship dependency and female-perpetrated physical dating aggression at high levels of emotion dysregulation. A significant interaction was also found between the SSDS Emotional Dependency subscale and emotion dysregulation predicting female-perpetrated physical dating aggression, such that among those with low scores in emotion dysregulation, there was a positive relationship between emotional dependency and female-perpetrated physical dating aggression. Findings suggest that the ability to regulate emotions may play an important role in the association between relationship dependency and female-perpetrated dating aggression.