Traditional masculine ideologies as a mediator of the relationship between witnessing violence in childhood and intimate partner violence relationships

Date of Award

2012

Degree Name

M.A. in Clinical Psychology

Department

Department of Psychology

Advisor/Chair

Advisor: Catherine Zois

Abstract

This study examined the link between witnessing inter-parental violence in childhood and adult intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization. The researchers of this study explored the possibility that female participant's endorsements of traditional masculine ideologies (TMI), or involvement with men who possess these ideologies, mediated this relationship between witnessing violence in childhood and adult IPV victimization. Female college students (N=99) and female residents in a community drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic (N=33) rated their experiences of childhood abuse and witnessing violence in childhood, as well as their endorsements regarding TMI and how they believed their ideal partner would endorse TMI statements. The results of this study replicated the finding that witnessing violence in childhood predicts adult IPV victimization; however, TMI endorsements did not mediate this relationship. The results also indicated that witnessing violence in childhood predicted IPV above and beyond other types of abuse experiences in childhood. Taken together, the findings of the current study suggest that further research is needed regarding mediators of the relationship between witnessing violence in childhood and adult IPV.

Keywords

Intimate partner violence Psychological aspects, Family violence Psychological aspects, Mate selection Psychological aspects, Male domination (Social structure) Psychological aspects, Children of abused wives

Rights Statement

Copyright © 2012, author

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