Dyadic Associations Between Family‐of‐Origin Violence and Intimate Partner Violence: The Role of Conflict Resolution Style
Izhar Harani, Anat Ben‐PoratABSTRACT
Purpose
Based on recollections of family‐of‐origin violence (FOV), and using the actor–partner interdependence mediation model (APIMeM), the aim of this study was to investigate spouses' mutual contributions to intimate partner violence (IPV). Specifically, we examined the role of conflict resolution style between FOV and IPV.
Method
Participants comprised 140 married Jewish heterosexual couples, including 84 couples drawn from Israel's general population and 56 couples recruited through violence prevention centers and couple/family centers across the country. Participants completed self‐report measures of FOV, conflict resolution style, and physical assault and psychological aggression toward their spouse.
Results
Dyadic analysis revealed three routes affecting husbands' physical assault and psychological aggression toward their wives and wives' psychological aggression toward their husbands: The higher the wives' recollection of FOV, the higher the wives' dominating conflict resolution style which, in turn, was positively linked to the husbands' physical assault and psychological aggression toward the wives and to the wives' psychological aggression toward their husbands.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that IPV is related to spouses' interdependent contributions; in addition, FOV may shape the ways in which partners resolve conflicts and also shape IPV levels.
Implications
These findings can be used to develop prevention and treatment programs for couples, offering opportunities for more adaptive behaviors in intimate relationships.