Perceived verbal conflict behaviors associated with physical aggression and sexual coercion in dating relationships: a gender-sensitive analysis.

Full Abstract

We studied perceived partner verbal behaviors associated with participants' use of dating aggression. Men's reports of their partners' demanding, controlling, and psychologically abusive behaviors during conflicts were expected to predict men's perpetration against partners. In contrast, women's reports of their partners' withdrawal were expected to predict women's perpetration. Data were collected from heterosexual undergraduates (N = 223) in exclusive dating relationships. Participants' reports of partner demands and partner psychological abuse were associated with participants' use of physical aggression and sexual coercion. Reports of partner withdrawal and partner controlling behaviors were associated with participants' sexual coercion only. Significant moderating effects of gender emerged. As expected, partner demands, controlling behaviors, and psychological abuse were associated with physical aggression and sexual coercion in men, but not women. Partner withdrawal was associated with sexual coercion in both women and men. We conclude that gender-sensitive approaches are necessary to understand and prevent verbal conflict patterns associated with physical aggression and sexual coercion in intimate relationships.

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Author information

Author/s: Katz, Jennifer (J); Carino, Andrew (A); Hilton, Angela (A);

Affiliation: Wynne Center for Family Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine, NY 14642, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Violence and victims (Violence Vict), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Feb; vol 17 (issue 1) : pp 93-109

Dates: Created 2002/05/06; Completed 2002/10/24; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 11991160, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adult
Aggression - psychology
Communication
Conflict (Psychology)
Female
Humans
Internal-External Control
Male
Men - psychology
Motivation
Multivariate Analysis

Power (Psychology)
Predictive Value of Tests
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Questionnaires
Rape - psychology
Regression Analysis
Risk Factors
Sex Factors
Sexual Partners - psychology
Students - psychology
Verbal Behavior
Women - psychology

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