nach oben

09.05.2024 | Original Article

Exploring the Link Between Relationship Cycling and Aggression in Challenging Romantic Relationships

verfasst von: René M. Dailey, Abigail Dalgleish Hazlett, Chelsea Brass-Rosenfield

Erschienen in: Journal of Family Violence

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Abstract

Purpose

The current study aimed to explicate the link between relationship cycling (breaking up and renewing) and aggression. The goals were to: (1) assess if different types of aggression were more prevalent in cyclical as compared to non-cyclical relationships, and (2) determine how conflict management and relational dependence might explain the association between cycling and aggression.

Methods

Using CloudResearch.com, longitudinal data across four months from 177 individuals in challenging relationships were collected. Participants completed up to six surveys three weeks apart. Psychological and physical violence as well as coercive control were assessed as indicators of aggression; participants rated both their own and their partners’ aggression. Aggression, conflict, and relational dependence were collected at each timepoint in addition to the occurrence of breakups and renewals. Cyclical and non-cyclical categorizations were determined by the baseline data.

Results

Cyclical partners (as compared to non-cyclical) were more likely to experience unidirectional, severe violence and control and less likely to report no violence or control in their relationships. Analyses also showed that managing conflict ineffectively was associated with violence and control (particularly by participants’ partners), and participants’ relational dependence was associated with their own controlling behaviors towards their partners. In assessing relational transitions, aggression, conflict, and dependence all predicted breakups across four months; yet, only aggression predicted renewals.

Conclusion

Overall, findings suggest aggression leads to cycling (i.e., renewals). Additionally, more dynamic, interactive processes (e.g., conflict management) might explicate the link between aggression and relational transitions better than more stable relational qualities (e.g., relational dependence).

Anderson, D. J. (2003). The impact on subsequent violence of returning to an abusive partner. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 34(1), 93–112.CrossRef

Arriaga, X. B., Capezza, N. M., & Daly, C. A. (2016). Personal standards for judging aggression by a relationship partner: How much aggression is too much? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 110, 36–54. https://doi.org/10.1037/Pspi00000035.CrossRefPubMed

Arriaga, X. B., Capezza, N. M., Goodfriend, W., & Allsop, K. E. (2018). The invisible harm of downplaying a romantic partner’s aggression. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 27(4), 275–280. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721417754198.CrossRef

Baker, L. R., Cobb, R. A., McNulty, J. K., Lambert, N. M., & Fincham, F. D. (2016). Remaining in a situationally aggressive relationship: The role of relationship self-efficacy. Personal Relationships, 23, 591–604. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12145.CrossRef

Barrios, V. R., Khaw, L. B. L., Bermea, A., & Hardesty, J. L. (2021). Future directions in intimate partner violence research: An intersectionality framework for analyzing women’s processes of leaving abusive relationships. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(23–24), NP12600–NP12625. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519900939.CrossRefPubMed

Bell, M. E., Goodman, L. A., & Dutton, M. A. (2009). Variations in help-seeking, battered women’s relationship course, emotional well-being, and experiences of abuse over time. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 33, 149–162. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6402.2009.01485.x.CrossRef

Bornstein, R. F. (2006). The complex relationship between dependence and domestic violence. American Psychologist, 61(6), 595–606. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.61.6.595.CrossRefPubMed

Campbell, J., Rose, L., Kub, J., & Nedd, D. (1998). Voices of strength and resistance: A contextual and longitudinal analysis of women’s responses to battering. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 13(6), 743–762. https://doi.org/10.1177/088626098013006005.CrossRef

Carlson, R. G., & Jones, K. D. (2010). Continuum of conflict and control: A conceptualization of intimate partner violence typologies. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 18(3), 248–254. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480710371795.CrossRef

Carney, M. M., & Buttell, R. (2006). Exploring the relevance of interpersonal dependency as a treatment issue in batterer intervention. Research on Social Work Practice, 16(3), 276–286. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731505282836.CrossRef

Conroy, N. E., Crowley, C. G., & DeSanto, D. L. (2022). Assessing the state of empirical research on Johnson’s typology of violence: A systematic review. Journal of Family Violence. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-022-00416-3.CrossRef

Crapolicchio, E., Regalia, C., Di Bernardo, G. A., & Cinquegrana, V. (2021). The role of relational dependence, forgiveness and hope on the intention to return with an abusive partner. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 38(9), 2474–2493. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075211011546.CrossRef

Dailey, R. M. (2020). On-again, off-again relationships: Navigating (in)Stability in romantic relationships. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108567756.

Dailey, R. M., Pfiester, A., Jin, B., Beck, G., & Clark, G. (2009a). On-again/off-again dating relationships: How are they different from other dating relationships? Personal Relationships, 16, 23–47. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2009.01208.x.CrossRef

Dailey, R. M., Rossetto, K. R., Pfiester, R. A., & Surra, C. A. (2009b). A qualitative analysis of on-again/off-again romantic relationships: It’s up, it’s down, all around. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 26, 443–466. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407509351035.CrossRef

Dailey, R. M., Dalgleish, H., A., & Brass-Rosenfield, C. (2022). The role of psychological and physical aggression in relationship cycling. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37, 23–24. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605211068082.CrossRef

Dutton, D. G., & Painter, S. (1993). The battered woman syndrome: Effects of severity and intermittency of abuse. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 63, 614–622.CrossRefPubMed

Etaugh, C. (2020). Prevalence of intimate partner violence in LGBTQ individuals: An intersectional approach. In B. Russell (Ed.), Intimate partner violence and the LGBT + community: Understanding power dynamics (pp. 11–36). Springer.

Frankland, A., & Brown, J. (2014). Coercive control in same-sex intimate partner violence. Journal of Family Violence, 29, 15–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-013-9558-1.CrossRef

Griffing, S., Fish Ragin, D., Madry, S. R. E., Bingham, L., L. E., & Primm, B. J. (2002). Domestic violence survivors’ self-identified reasons for returning to abusive relationships. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 17(3), 306–319.CrossRef

Ha, T., Kim, H., & McGill, S. (2019). When conflict escalates into intimate partner violence: The delicate nature of observed coercion in adolescent romantic relationships. Development and Psychopathology, 31, 1729–1739. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579419001007.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Halpern-Meekin, S., & Turney, K. (2021). Relationship churning and desistance from intimate abuse. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(11–12), 5685–5708. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260518807214.CrossRefPubMed

Halpern-Meekin, S., Manning, W., Giordano, P., & Longmore, M. (2013a). Relationship churning, physical violence, and verbal abuse in young adult relationships. Journal of Marriage and Family, 75(1), 2–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2012.01029.x.CrossRefPubMed

Halpern-Meekin, S., Manning, W., Giordano, P., & Longmore, M. (2013b). Relationship churning in emerging adulthood: On/off relationships and sex with an ex. Journal of Adolescent Research, 28(2), 166–188. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558412464524.CrossRefPubMed

Hardesty, J. L., & Ogolsky, B. G. (2020). A socioecological perspective on intimate partner violence research: A decade in review. Journal of Marriage and Family, 82(1), 454–477. https://doi.org/10.1891/1946-6560.3.2.231.CrossRef

Hardesty, J. L., Crossman, K. A., Haselschwerdt, M. L., Raffaelli, M., Ogolsky, B. G., & Johnson, M. P. (2015). Toward a standard approach to operationalizing coercive control and classifying violence types. Journal of Marriage and Family, 77, 833–843. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12201.CrossRefPubMed

Heron, R. L., Eisma, M., & Browne, K. (2022). Why do female domestic violence victims remain in or leave abusive relationships? A qualitative study. Journal of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma, 31(5), 677–694. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2021.2019154.CrossRef

Hesser, H., Axelsson, S., Backe, V., Enstrand, J., Gustafsson, T., Holmgren, E., Jeppsson, U., Pollack, M., Norden, K., Rosenqvist, D., & Andersson, G. (2017). Preventing intimate partner violence via the internet: A randomized controlled trial of emotion-regulation and conflict management training for individuals with aggression problems. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 24, 1163–1177. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2082.CrossRefPubMed

Hines, D. A., & Douglas, E. M. (2018). Influence of intimate terrorism, situational couple violence, and mutual violent control on male victims. Psychology of Men and Masculinity, 19(4), 612–623. https://doi.org/10.1037/men0000142.CrossRefPubMed

Holtzworth-Munroe, A., Stuart, G. L., & Hutchinson, G. (1997). Violent versus nonviolent husbands: Differences in attachment patterns, dependency, and jealousy. Journal of Family Psychology, 11(3), 314–331. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.11.3.314.CrossRef

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2007.00470.x.

Hui, V., & Constantino, R. E. (2021). The association between life satisfaction, emotional support, and perceived health among women who experienced intimate partner violence (IPV)-2007 behavioral risk factor surveillance system. Bmc Public Health, 21(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10665-4.CrossRef

Infante, D., Chandler, A., T. A., & Rudd, J. E. (1989). Test of an argumentative skill deficiency model of interspousal violence. Communication Monographs, 56, 163–177.CrossRef

Jacobson, N. S., Gottman, J. M., Waltz, J., Rushe, R., Babcock, J., & Hotzworth-Munro, A. (1994). Affect, verbal content, and psychophysiology in the arguments of couples with a violent husband. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62(5), 982–988. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-006x.62.5.982.CrossRefPubMed

Johnson, M. P. (1995). Patriarchal terrorism and common couple violence: Two forms of violence against women. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 57, 283–294. https://doi.org/10.2307/353683.CrossRef

Johnson, M. P. (2008). A typology of domestic violence. Northeastern University.

Johnson, M. P. (2017). A personal social history of a typology of intimate partner violence. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 9(2), 150–164. https://doi.org/10.1111/fjtr.12187.CrossRef

Johnson, M., & Leone, J. (2005). The differential effects of intimate terrorism and situational couple violence. Journal of Family Issues, 26(3), 322–349. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1649-x.CrossRef

Johnson, M. P., Leone, J. M., & Xu, Y. (2014). Intimate terrorism and situational couple violence in general surveys: Ex-spouses required. Violence against Women, 20(2), 186–207. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801214521324.CrossRefPubMed

Kanter, J. B., Proulx, C. M., & Monk, J. K. (2019). Accounting for divorce in marital research: An application to growth mixture modeling. Journal of Marriage and Family, 81, 520–530. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12547.CrossRef

Kelly, L. C., Spencer, C. M., Keilholtz, B., McAllister, P., & Stith, S. M. (2022). Is separate the new equal? A meta-analytic review of correlates of intimate partner violence victimization for Black and White women in the United States. Family Process, 61, 1473–1488. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12754.CrossRefPubMed

Kennedy, R., Clifford, S., Burleigh, T., Waggoner, P. D., Jewell, R., & Winter, N. J. G. (2020). The shape of and solutions to the MTurk quality crisis. Political Science Research and Methods, 8, 614–629. https://doi.org/10.1017/psrm.2020.6.CrossRef

Khaw, L., & Hardesty, J. L. (2007). Theorizing the process of leaving: Turning points and trajectories in the stages of change. Family Relations, 56(4), 413–425.CrossRef

Khaw, L., & Hardesty, J. L. (2015). Perceptions of boundary ambiguity in the process of leaving an abusive partner. Family Process, 54, 327–343. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12104.CrossRefPubMed

Kurdek, L. A. (1994). Conflict resolution styles in gay, lesbian, heterosexual nonparent, and heterosexual parent couples. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 56(3), 705–722.CrossRef

Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J., Misra, T. A., Selwyn, C., & Rohling, M. L. (2012). Rates of bidirectional versus unidirectional intimate partner violence across samples, sexual orientations, and race/ethnicities: A comprehensive review. Partner Abuse, 3(2), 199–230. https://doi.org/10.1891/1946-6560.3.2.199.CrossRef

Le, B., Dove, N. L., Agnew, C. R., Korn, M. S., & Mutso, A. A. (2010). Predicting nonmarital romantic relationship dissolution: A meta-analytic synthesis. Personal Relationships, 17, 377–390. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01285.x.CrossRef

Leemis, R. W., Friar, N., Khatiwada, S., Chen, M. S., Kresnow, M., Smith, S. G., Caslin, S., & Basile, K. C. (2022). The national intimate Partner and sexual violence survey: 2016/2017 report on intimate Partner violence. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs/nisvsreportonipv_2022.pdf.

Litman, L., Robinson, J., & Abberbock, T. (2017). TurkPrime.com: A versatile crowdsourcing data acquisition platform for the behavioral sciences. Behavioral Research Methods, 49(2), 433–442. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-016-0727-z.CrossRef

Longmore, M. A., Manning, W. D., Copp, J. E., & Giordano, P. C. (2016). A prospective study of adolescents’ sexual partnerships on emerging adults’ relationship satisfaction and intimate partner aggression. Emerging Adulthood, 4(6), 403–416. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696816631098.CrossRefPubMed

Mallory, A. B., Dharnidharka, P., Deitz, S. L., Barros-Gomes, P., Cafferky, B., Stith, S. M., & Van, K. (2016). A meta-analysis of cross cultural risk markers for intimate partner violence. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 31, 116–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2016.08.004.CrossRef

Markman, H. J., Renick, M. J., Floyd, F. J., Stanley, S. M., & Clements, M. (1993). Preventing marital distress through communication and conflict management training: A 4- and 5-year follow-up. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61(1), 70–77. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.61.1.70.CrossRefPubMed

McNulty, J. K., & Russell, V. M. (2010). When negative behaviors are positive: A contextual analysis of the long-term effects of problem-solving behaviors on changes in relationships satisfaction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98(4), 587–604. https://doi.org/10.1037/a001747.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Mennicke, A. (2019). Expanding and validating a typology of intimate partner violence: Intersections of violence and control within relationships. Violence against Women, 25(4), 379–400. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801218780362.CrossRefPubMed

Messing, J. T. (2019). Risk-informed intervention: Using intimate partner violence risk assessment within an evidence-based practice framework. Social Work, 64(2), 103–112. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swz009.CrossRefPubMed

Messinger, A. M., Fry, D. A., Rickert, V. I., Catallozzi, M., & Davidson, L. L. (2014). Extending Johnson’s intimate partner violence typology: Lessons from an adolescent sample. Violence against Women, 20(8), 948–971. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801214546907.CrossRefPubMed

Miller, K. B., Lund, E., & Weatherly, J. (2012). Applying operant learning to the stay-leave decision in domestic violence. Behavior and Social Issues, 21, 135–151.CrossRef

Monk, J. K. (2017). Boomerang coupling: the role of differentiation, violence, commitment, and deciding in on-off relationship instability (Doctoral dissertation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign).

Monk, J. K., Ogolsky, B. G., & Oswald, R. F. (2018). Coming out and getting back in: Relationship cycling and distress in same- and different-sex relationships. Family Relations, 67, 523–538. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12336.CrossRef

Monk, J. K., Ogolsky, B. G., & Maniotes, C. (2022). On-off relationship instability and distress over time in same- and different-sex relationships. Family Relations, 71, 630–645. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12614.CrossRef

Ornstein, P., & Rickne, J. (2013). When does intimate partner violence continue after separation? Violence against Women, 19(5), 617–633. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801213490560.CrossRefPubMed

Overall, N. C., & McNulty, J. K. (2017). What type of communication during conflict is beneficial for intimate relationships? Current Opinion in Psychology, 13, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.03.002.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Overall, N. C., Fletcher, G. J. O., Simpson, J. A., & Sibley, C. G. (2009). Regulating partners in intimate relationships: The costs and benefits of different communication strategies. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96(3), 620–639. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0012961.CrossRefPubMed

Rathus & O’Leary. (1997). Spouse-specific dependency scale development. Journal of Family Violence, 12(2), 159–168. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022884627567.CrossRef

Rhatigan, D. L., Street, A. E., & Axsom, D. K. (2006). A critical review of theories to explain violent relationship termination: Implications for research and intervention. Clinical Psychology Review, 26(3), 321–345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2005.09.002.

RStudio Team. (2020). RStudio: Integrated Development for R. RStudio. PBC. http://www.rstudio.com/.

Rusbult, C. E., & Martz, J. M. (1995). Remaining in an abusive relationship: An investment model analysis of nonvoluntary dependence. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 21(6), 558–571. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167295216002.CrossRef

Rusbult, C. E., & Van Lange, P. A. M. (2003). Interdependence, interactions, and relationships. Annual Review of Psychology, 54, 351–375. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.51.101601.145059.CrossRefPubMed

Simmons, S. B., Knight, K. E., & Menard, S. (2018). Long-term consequences of intimate partner abuse on physical health, emotional well-being, and problem behaviors. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 33(4), 539–570. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260515609582.CrossRefPubMed

Sommer, J., Iyican, S., & Babcock, J. (2019). The relation between contempt, anger, and intimate partner violence: A dyadic approach. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 34(15), 3059–3079. https://doi.org/10.11770886260516665107.CrossRefPubMed

Stanley, S. M., & Markman, H. J. (1992). Assessing commitment in personal relationships. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 54(3), 595–608. https://doi.org/10.2307/353245.CrossRef

Stith, S. M., & McCollum, E. E. (2011). Conjoint treatment of couples who have experienced intimate partner violence. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 16, 312–318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2011.04.012.CrossRef

Straus, M. A., & Douglas, E. M. (2004). A short form of the revised conflict tactics scales, and typologies for severity and mutuality. Violence and Victims, 19, 507–520. https://doi.org/10.1891/vivi.19.5.507.63686.CrossRefPubMed

Straus, M. A., Hamby, S. L., Boney-McCoy, S., & Sugarman, D. B. (1996). The revised conflict tactics scales (CTS2) development and preliminary psychometric data. Journal of Family Issues, 17(3), 283–316. https://doi.org/10.1177/019251396017003001.CrossRef

Strube, M. J. (1988). The decision to leave an abusive relationship: Empirical evidence and theoretical issues. Psychological Bulletin, 104(2), 236–250. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.104.2.236.CrossRefPubMed

Sullivan, K. R., Pasch, L. A., Lawrence, E., & Bradbury, T. N. (2015). Physical aggression, compromised social support, and 10-year marital outcomes: Testing a relational spillover model. Journal of Family Psychology, 29(6), 931–937. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000125.CrossRefPubMed

Tolman, R. M. (1992). Psychological abuse of women. In R. T. Ammerman, & M. Hersen (Eds.), Assessment of family violence: A clinical and legal sourcebook (pp. 291–310). Wiley.

Vennum, A., Lindstrom, R., Monk, J. K., & Adams, R. (2014). It’s complicated: The continuity and correlates of cycling in cohabiting and marital relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 31, 410–430. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407513501987.CrossRef

Vennum, A., Hardy, N., Sibley, D. S., & Fincham, F. D. (2015). Dedication and sliding in emerging adult cyclical and non-cyclical romantic relationships. Family Relations, 64(3), 407–419. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12126.CrossRef

Watkins, L. E., Jaffe, A. E., Hoffman, L., Gratz, K. L., Messman-Moore, T. L., & DiLillo, D. (2014). The longitudinal impact of intimate partner aggression and relationship status on women’s physical health and depression symptoms. Journal of Family Psychology, 28(5), 655–665. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000018.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Wright, N. M., Dmitrieva, J., & DePrince, A. P. (2021). Dependence in adult relationships: Latent classes of relational dependence and associated outcomes in women exposed to intimate partner abuse. Psychological Trauma: Theory Research Practice and Policy, 13(3), 359–367. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000661.CrossRefPubMed

Titel: Exploring the Link Between Relationship Cycling and Aggression in Challenging Romantic Relationships
verfasst von: René M. Dailey
Abigail Dalgleish Hazlett
Chelsea Brass-Rosenfield
Publikationsdatum: 09.05.2024
Verlag: Springer US
Erschienen in: Journal of Family Violence
Print ISSN: 0885-7482
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-2851
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-024-00698-9

Update Psychiatrie

Bestellen Sie unseren Fach-Newsletter und bleiben Sie gut informiert.

Newsletter bestellen

Live-Webinar "Urologie und Sexualmedizin in der Praxis"

Springer Medizin

Exploring the Link Between Relationship Cycling and Aggression in Challenging Romantic Relationships

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Neu im Fachgebiet Psychiatrie

Hörschwäche erhöht Demenzrisiko unabhängig von Beta-Amyloid

So wirken verschiedene Alkoholika auf den Blutdruck

„Übersichtlicher Wegweiser“: Lauterbachs umstrittener Klinik-Atlas ist online

ADHS-Medikation erhöht das kardiovaskuläre Risiko

Update Psychiatrie

Live-Webinar "Urologie und Sexualmedizin in der Praxis"

Springer Medizin

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Bitte loggen Sie sich ein, um Zugang zu diesem Inhalt zu erhalten

Neu im Fachgebiet Psychiatrie

Hörschwäche erhöht Demenzrisiko unabhängig von Beta-Amyloid

So wirken verschiedene Alkoholika auf den Blutdruck

„Übersichtlicher Wegweiser“: Lauterbachs umstrittener Klinik-Atlas ist online

ADHS-Medikation erhöht das kardiovaskuläre Risiko

Update Psychiatrie