Experiential Avoidance as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Intimate Partner Abuse Perpetration

Past research has established trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as important risk factors for intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration, focusing on hyperarousal and cognitive biases as explanatory mechanisms. The current study investigated whether experiential avoidance (EA), the tendency to avoid unwanted private experiences, helps explain the association between PTSD symptoms and IPV perpetration. Seventy-four men receiving IPV intervention services completed assessments of trauma exposure, PTSD symptoms, and IPV perpetration, and responded to hypothetical distressing relationship situations by rating: (1) anticipated experience of negative emotions, (2) motivation to avoid those emotional experiences, (3) the expectation that various aggressive and nonaggressive responses would reduce negative emotions, and (4) perceived likelihood of engaging in those responses. PTSD symptoms were associated with higher levels of dispositional EA, anticipation of negative emotions during distressing relationship situations, EA during difficult relationship situations, and anticipated reduction in negative emotion from engaging in abusive behaviors. EA significantly mediated the association between PTSD symptoms and emotional abuse perpetration, but not physical assault or sexual coercion. Partner abusive men experiencing higher PTSD symptoms report greater experiential avoidance of negative emotions during difficult relationship situations and higher anticipation that abusive and aggressive actions will repair their uncomfortable emotional state. The results highlight EA as an important treatment target for trauma-informed IPV intervention, particularly with respect to emotionally abusive behavior.