Attachment, Emotion Dysregulation, and Physical IPV in Predominantly Hispanic, Young Adult Couples

Insecure attachment has been found to be a risk factor for perpetrating physical intimate partner violence (IPV). However, this association is likely exacerbated by additional factors, such as conflicting insecure attachment in one’s partner and difficulties with overall emotion regulation and impulse control. The present study aimed to examine the associations between insecure attachment and physical IPV perpetration in male and female partners, as well as to examine whether these associations are exacerbated by involvement with a partner with opposing attachment needs and overall emotion dysregulation and impulsivity. Additionally, this study examined whether partners’ emotion dysregulation interacted to predict IPV. Two hundred eight heterosexual couples primarily recruited from a Hispanic-serving university completed questionnaires on attachment, emotion dysregulation, and one’s own and one’s partner’s perpetration. Results revealed that attachment anxiety, impulsivity, and an interaction effect between attachment avoidance and partner’s attachment anxiety were associated with self-reported, but not partner-reported, male perpetration. For females, attachment anxiety was associated with female IPV (self-reported and partner-reported), and impulsivity was associated with self-reported female IPV. Overall, results underscore how relationships between known risk factors and IPV perpetration may differ depending on if IPV perpetration is measured using self-reported or partner-reported data. Additional results and implications are discussed

Risk Factors of Female-Perpetrated Intimate Partner Violence among Hispanic Young Adults: Attachment Style, Emotional Dysregulation, and Negative Childhood Experiences

This paper examined whether risk factors commonly associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) are associated with female-perpetrated physical IPV and female physical IPV victimization among young Hispanic women. It also examined how emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, and attachment style exacerbated these relationships. Furthermore, it investigates how these associations differ by the type of self-reported physical violence against their romantic partner. Based on the participants\u27 self-reported physical violence, they were classified into one of four groups: nonviolent, victim-only, perpetrator-only, and bidirectionally violent. Bidirectional violence was by far the most common form of violence reported. Utilizing self-report data from 360 young Hispanic women, we used binary logistic regression to examine potential predictors of physical IPV perpetration and victimization for each group. Results demonstrated that women in the bidirectionally violent group reported the highest levels of perpetration and victimization. Parental violence victimization, witnessing interparental violence, insecure attachment styles, and emotional dysregulation predicted physical IPV perpetration and victimization. These findings emphasize the need for effective interventions that include both members of the dyad and acknowledge the impact of women\u27s attachment style, emotion dysregulation, and adverse childhood experiences on female-perpetrated IPV and female IPV victimization

Hormonal differences in perpetrators of intimate partner violence

Objective: In order to gain a better understanding of the individual and joint impact of testosterone and cortisol on behavior, the present study was developed to test the differences in each hormone alone and conjointly between perpetrators of IPV and non-violent controls. Method: Perpetrators of IPV on probation were compared to a control group of non-aggressive males from Hidalgo County in the Rio Grande Valley on baseline testosterone and cortisol, as well as several relevant questionnaires measuring aggression and trait anger. Differences in cortisol following exposure to a stressful event were also examined. Procedures included two laboratory visits consisting of questionnaires, a number of salivary testosterone and cortisol collections, and exposure to a stressor. Results: Perpetrators had higher basal testosterone and post stressor cortisol levels than non- violent controls as well as a higher T/C ratio. In addition, trait anger moderated the relationship between both testosterone alone, and the testosterone/cortisol ratio and perpetration of IPV. Conclusion: Results are consistent with the hypothesis that testosterone leads to antisocial behavior, including perpetration of violence. The results are also consistent with the dual hormone hypothesis, i.e., that testosterone and cortisol work together to jointly regulate social dominance and aggression. Both the increased freestanding testosterone and the increased cortisol following exposure to stress places these men at risk for perpetrating violence. Clinical implications are discussed

Treatment impact on recidivism of family only vs. generally violent partner violence perpetrators

Background/objective: The outcome of a treatment program for a large sample of male perpetrators on probation for intimate partner violence (IPV) was evaluated with particular reference to the differential impact on family only (FO) versus generally violent (GV) perpetrators. Method: Official rates of recidivism for three years post termination of treatment and probation were examined for 456 perpetrators after they were classified as FO and GV. Results: Both treatment completion and type of perpetrator were predictive of IPV recidivism and time to recidivism. However, analyses conducted separately for the two groups indicated that participation in the intervention predicted both recidivism and time to recidivism for the GV but not FO perpetrators who participated in treatment. Specifically, GV men were responsive to treatment whereas FO men were not. Results were somewhat different depending on who was included in the no treatment comparison group. Conclusions: Implications of these findings for one size fits all interventions in IPV are discussed with specific reference to the need to develop different interventions for GV and FO perpetrators

Is All Dating Violence Equal? Gender and Severity Differences in Predictors of Perpetration

The present study assesses the extent of perpetration of physical violence in predominately Hispanic high school students in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. The relationship between adverse childhood experiences, exposure to interparental violence, attachment, emotion regulation, and impulsivity on two distinct, mutually exclusive, categories of severity of physical teen dating violence (TDV) perpetration is further explored. Participants completed self-report measures as part of a larger, anonymous web-based questionnaire. Two categories (i.e., minor/moderate and severe) were created to discern the contextual variables associated with different levels of severity of physical violence perpetration by males and females. Eight-hundred and twenty-nine 14- to 18-year-old adolescents from four different high schools participated in the study, of whom 407 reported having been in a dating relationship in the last 12 months. The results demonstrate that when only the most severe item of TDV is taken into consideration, the rates of violence perpetration by males and females are almost equal and remarkably lower than those reported in the literature. However, when the assessment includes minor/moderate levels of violence, such as pushing, the rates of violence perpetration by females are twice those of males and are consistent with those reported in the literature. Furthermore, different variables are associated with different levels of severity of violence perpetration. The results support approaches that emphasize the need to take the context of the violence into consideration, since all levels are not equal. The need to take the severity of violence into account in studies assessing dating violence is highlighted

Exploring Typology Categorizations of Male Perpetrators: A Methodology Study

Intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators were categorized based on whether they were generally violent (GV) or family only violent (FO) using self-report or arrest records. Classification criteria to assess recidivism in perpetrators of IPV were evaluated herein to determine the incremental validity of using a perpetrator’s criminal history in addition to their self-report information for categorization purposes. The concordance rates for categorizing subtypes of male perpetrators were compared for two methods, namely, self-report versus criminal history data. Categorizations were made based on self-reported history of violence and federal criminal records separately. Between measures consistency was defined as whether or not the self-report categorizations matched federal criminal record categorizations. It was hypothesized that self-report would not be sufficient as the sole method of categorizing male perpetrators, and the use of criminal history data would add to the validity of the categorization system. Self-reports of aggression were higher than criminal records of aggression. Using data sources together may yield the best outcomes for offenders and society. Implications are discussed

Physical Intimate Partner Violence Concordance Rates in Couples: Does CTS2 Item Order Matter?

Intimate partner violence (IPV) concordance rates between partners are low across national, community, and clinical samples. Discordance between partners’ IPV reports is problematic given that self-report questionnaires, such as the CTS2, are commonly used to assess IPV. Moreover, most research is based solely on the report of one partner. Some have attributed this discordance to how CTS2 items are presented. The CTS2 presents items inquiring on the frequencies of perpetration by oneself and then one’s partner in pairs. The present study examined whether IPV concordance rates improve if couples are administered a version of the CTS2 where all items assessing their partner’s behaviors are presented first, followed by items assessing the respondents’ behaviors. Additionally, the present study examined whether correlations between self-reported and partner-reported perpetration and victimization differ depending on the order in which CTS2 items are presented. Two samples of heterosexual couples were recruited from a large metropolitan area in the United States. The first sample was administered the CTS2 in its usual format. The second sample was administered a version of the CTS2 that presented items on one’s partners’ behavior first, followed by self-reported behavior. Results revealed that concordance rates among violent couples were higher in the group administered the CTS2 in its altered format, particularly agreement on male IPV perpetration. However, when agreement on minor and severe IPV was examined separately, concordance rates between groups were relatively similar for severe IPV. These findings suggest that altering the item presentation of the CTS2 may improve the interrater reliability of the Physical Assault Scale of the CTS2. Additional results are discussed

Differences Among Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence Utilizing Proactive Versus Reactive Aggression

This research aimed to categorize perpetrator’s aggression as reactive or proactive regarding intimate partner violence and explore the relationship with relevant variables. Victim statements in police reports of 60 predominantly Hispanic male adult perpetrators on probation in South Texas were rated, categorizing statements as reactive or proactive. It was hypothesized that more men would display reactive aggression and it would be associated with severe violence, emotion regulation difficulties, state anger, and impulsivity. The study further suggested that emotion regulation, state anger, and impulsivity would moderate the relationship between severity of violence and reactive/proactive classification, and impulsivity would mediate the relationship between state anger and reactive/proactive classification. Results showed 79% of perpetrators using reactive aggression and 21% using proactive aggression. Men with reactive aggression exhibited more severe violence, emotion regulation difficulties, impulsivity, and state anger. There were no moderation effects of study variables on severity of violence and reactive/proactive classification. Impulsivity fully mediated the relationship between state anger and reactive/proactive classification. Our results support approaches that emphasize reactive aggression in intimate partner violence perpetration due to its frequency and potential recidivism effects. - Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo categorizar la agresión del maltratador como reactiva o proactiva en la violencia de pareja y explorar la relación con variables relevantes. Se clasificaron las declaraciones de las víctimas en los informes policiales de 60 hombres adultos agresores predominantemente hispanos en libertad condicional en el sur de Texas, categorizando las declaraciones como reactivas o proactivas. Se hipotetizó que más hombres mostrarían agresión reactiva y que estaría asociada con violencia grave, dificultades en la regulación emocional, ira-estado e impulsividad. El estudio sugirió además que la regulación emocional, la ira-estado y la impulsividad moderarían la relación entre la gravedad de la violencia y la clasificación reactiva/proactiva, y que la impulsividad mediaría la relación entre la ira-estado y la clasificación reactiva/proactiva. Los resultados mostraron que el 79% de los agresores utilizaban la agresión reactiva y el 21% la proactiva. Los hombres con agresión reactiva mostraban una violencia más grave, dificultades en la regulación emocional, impulsividad e ira-estado. No hubo efectos moderadores de las variables estudiadas sobre la gravedad de la violencia y la clasificación reactiva/proactiva. La impulsividad medió totalmente en la relación entre la ira-estado y la clasificación reactiva/proactiva. Nuestros resultados apoyan las perspectivas que enfatizan la agresión reactiva en la violencia en las relaciones de pareja debido a su frecuencia y potenciales efectos de reincidencia

Cognitive Reappraisal as a Protective Factor in the Association between Cyber Intimate Partner Victimization and Depression in Hispanic Emerging Adults

Cyber intimate partner victimization (cyber IPV) has been associated with mental health problems. The present study hypothesized that cyber IPV types (i.e., psychological, sexual, stalking) uniquely affect depression symptoms in Hispanic emerging adults. In addition, cognitive reappraisal was hypothesized to moderate the unique effects of cyber IPV types on depression symptoms. Participants were 1,129 Hispanic, university-going emerging adults (M = 20.53, SD = 2.44; 72.5% female) in South Texas. Linear regression and moderation analyses were conducted to assess study aims. Psychological and sexual cyber IPV were uniquely associated with symptoms of depression but stalking cyber IPV was not. Victimization of these types of cyber IPV may cause an increase in depression symptoms. Cognitive reappraisal moderated the unique associations of both psychological and sexual cyber IPV with symptoms of depression, such that greater scores on cognitive reappraisal were associated with lower scores on depression symptoms among victims. Reappraising cognitions associated with the negative experience ensuing psychological or sexual cyber IPV may protect against depression symptoms. Findings call for development of culturally sensitive preventative and treatment programs for Hispanic IPV-survivors. Continual research should be conducted to assess the effectiveness of cognitive reappraisal in treating depression symptoms affected by cyber IPV

Patterns, Risk Factors, and Mental Health Correlates of Cyber Intimate Partner Violence in Hispanic Emerging Adults

Purpose Technology and social media provide new opportunities to commit violence against an intimate partner (IPV). The present study aimed to investigate the patterns of exposure to cyber IPV perpetration and victimization types, related risk factors (i.e., adverse experiences during childhood) and mental health correlates among Hispanic emerging adults. Method A three-step latent class analysis was performed in a sample of 1,113 Hispanic emerging adults in the age range 18 to 29 years (M = 20.53 years, SD = 2.47). Results A five-class solution was found to be optimal, and the latent classes were labeled as low cyber, cyberstalking IPV, cyber psychological IPV, cyberstalking and psychological IPV, and high cyber IPV victimization and perpetration. Individuals with higher mean scores on childhood maltreatment and witnessing parental violence were more likely to be in the class with higher probabilities of cyber IPV victimization and perpetration. Furthermore, those in the cyber IPV victimization and perpetration class had higher means on symptoms of depression and alcohol use. Conclusions Latent classes showed bidirectional cyber IPV with varying probabilities of exposure to victimization and perpetration. Findings are in line with the cumulative risk hypothesis as results showed that exposure to multiple traumatic childhood experiences and cyber IPV accumulate and have a detrimental effect on the mental health correlates. Intervention and preventative strategies should address the impact of hazardous use of technology on intimate relationships and mental health correlates