Effect of Coercion on Aggression and Mental Health Among Reciprocally Violent Couples

• NCJ Number: 221938
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 23 Issue: 3 Dated: April 2008 Pages: 195-202
• Author(s): Moises Prospero
• Date Published: April 2008
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined differences in partner violence (psychological, physical, and sexual) and mental health symptoms (depression, anxiety, hostility, and psychosomatic symptoms) for couples who had been mutually violent toward one another, with distinctions drawn between couples who engaged in situational violence (SCV) and violence stemming from mutual control conflicts (MVC).

Abstract

The study found that respondents who engaged in MVC were significantly more likely to report higher levels of psychological, physical, and sexual perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) than respondents who engaged in SCV. MVC couples were also significantly more likely to report symptoms of depression, anxiety, hostility, and psychosomatic symptoms, as well as more physical injuries, compared with SCV couples. The findings show the adverse effects of engaging in coercive efforts by both partners to control the other partner. These findings suggest that persons involved in counseling people involved in abusive relationships should determine whether the partners are mutually violent and then whether the violence stems from MVC or SCV. The findings should determine the focus of the treatment. Study participants were 609 university students (59 percent were women) who were required to have been involved in an intimate relationship within the past year that lasted at least 3 months. The Revised Conflict Tactics Scale was used to measure the various types of abusive behavior, and the Revised Controlling Behaviors Scale measured controlling behaviors. Mental health symptoms were measured with the Symptom Questionnaire. Standard multiple regressions were used to examine the predictive value of IPV type on IPV perpetration, mental health symptoms, and physical injuries, while controlling for the effects of ethnicity (Asian, African-American, Hispanic, or White), gender, birthplace, cohabitation, and age. 5 tables and 30 references