Courtship Violence Among College Students: A Comparison of Verbally and Physically Abusive Couples

• NCJ Number: 182093
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2000 Pages: 1-22
• Author(s): Nancy J. Shook; Deborah A. Gerrity; Joan Jurich; Allen E. Segrist
• Editor(s): Vincent B. Van Hasselt, Michel Hersen
• Date Published: 2000
• Length: 22 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study used a modified version of the Conflict Tactics Scale to measure the expression of verbal and physical aggression among college students involved in dating relationships over the previous year.

Abstract

Of 2,000 self-report questionnaires distributed to undergraduate and graduate students at a midwestern university, 705 were returned and 572 (395 from females and 177 from males) were used in the final analysis. The modified version of the Conflict Tactics Scale included questions on witnessing conjugal violence, experiences with parent-child aggression, drinking at the time of violence, general drinking patterns, and attitudes toward women. Results indicated 82 percent of the total sample reported having engaged in verbally aggressive behavior with a dating partner over the past year, whereas 21 percent admitted to acting in a physically aggressive manner over the same interval. No significant gender-based difference was found for verbal aggression scores. However, females were significantly more likely than males to report using physical force. Male and female students who used verbal aggression were characteristically similar to each other. Both sexes had experienced aggression from a parent as children and had drank alcohol within 3 hours of an argument with a dating partner. Male and female students who admitted using physical force were dissimilar, except that both sexes had experienced parent-child aggression. For male students, having witnessed conjugal violence and their general drinking patterns were also significantly related to the use of force. For female students, the use of physical force was associated with drinking alcohol within 3 hours of an argument with a dating partner. Implications of the findings for future research and for mental health professionals serving the college student population are discussed. 30 references and 4 tables