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Couple Conflict Behavior: Disentangling Associations With Relationship Dissatisfaction and Intimate Partner Violence.

Richard E HeymanAmy M Smith SlepJill GiresiKatherine J W Baucom
Published in: Journal of family issues (2022)
This study investigates associations between (a) relationship satisfaction and intimate partner violence (IPV: psychological, physical, and sexual) and (b) observed couples communication behavior. Mixed-sex couples ( N =291) were recruited via random digit dialing. Partners completed the Quality of Marriage Index (Norton, 1983), the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (Straus et al., 1996), and one female-initiated and one male-initiated 10-min conflict conversations. Discussions were coded with Rapid Marital Interaction Coding System, 2nd Generation (Heyman et al., 2015). As hypothesized, lower satisfaction was associated with more hostility ( p =.018) and less positivity ( p < 0.001); more extensive IPV was associated with more hostility ( p < 0.001). For negative reciprocity, there was a dissatisfaction × IPV extent × conversation-initiator interaction ( p < 0.006). Results showed that conflict behaviors of mixed-sex couples are related to the interplay among gender, satisfaction, and the severity of couple-level IPV. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.
Keyphrases
  • intimate partner violence
  • mental health
  • physical activity
  • depressive symptoms
  • quality improvement
  • sleep quality
  • hiv testing
  • hiv infected
  • men who have sex with men
  • sensitive detection