The Association between Disengaged Couple Communication and Intimate Partner Violence in Newlywed Couples

Author/Creator

Author/Creator ORCID

Date

2018-01-01

Department

Psychology

Program

Psychology

Citation of Original Publication

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Distribution Rights granted to UMBC by the author.
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Abstract

Romantic disengagement and intimate partner violence (IPV) are maladaptive forms of couple communication. Attachment theory and research on the demand-withdraw dyadic communication pattern suggest that there is a positive association between disengagement and IPV. The present study examined associations between IPV and disengagement in a sample of newlywed couples over two time points. Couples were assessed during their first (N = 114) and second (N = 90) years of marriage. Results indicated that individuals' disengagement was positively related to their own and their partner's concurrent IPV. Spouses' Time 1 disengagement was not associated with their partners' IPV at Time 2. Wives' Time 1 IPV was associated with husband's higher Time 2 disengagement but husbands' Time 1 IPV was not associated with wives' Time 2 disengagement. Husbands' who were more disengaged at Time 1, were more disengaged at Time 2 when their wives engaged in IPV at Time 1. However, this pattern was not found for wives' disengagement. This research helps to elucidate the functions of disengaged couple communication and IPV early in the marriage.