Family and peer factors related to the development of aggression in adolescent dating relationships John H. Grych & Kara Lindstedt Marquette University

Thanks to… Greg FoscoPatrick Gunderson Nicole HartLaura Klockow Sarah RaynorDiana Robbins Joanne Hepp, Mary Kohl and the students of Alexander Hamilton High School

Research on Aggression in Adolescent Romantic Relationships - Guided primarily by social learning theory; modeling, reinforcement as mechanisms - Aggression viewed as a response to conflict - Focus on family of origin - Emphasis on individual characteristics as mediators; Eg., beliefs about justifiability of aggression

The Interpersonal Context of Dating Aggression: Peer Relationships -Developmentally, may serve as a bridge between family relationships and romantic relationships - Provide new interpersonal opportunities that can reinforce or counter family experiences - Limited empirical data supports peer influences on dating aggression

Can positive peer relationships buffer the effect of family aggression on dating behavior?

The Interpersonal Context of Dating Aggression: Attachment Relationships - Parent-child interactions shape Internal Working Models of relationships - Expectations for others behavior - Ability to regulate emotions - Highly anxious individuals may perceive a range of behaviors as threats to the relationship - Aggression may be an attempt to keep partner close, avoid dissolution of the relationship (maintain proximity)

Is there continuity in the quality of parent-child, peer, and adolescent romantic relationships? Do qualities of these relationships predict dating aggression?

Questions Examined in the Present Study 1. Do peer relationships moderate the link between interparental conflict and dating aggression? 2. Does integrating family and peer relationships with cognitive and emotional processes provide better prediction of aggression in teen dating relationships?

Anger regulation Attitudes re: Aggression. Interparental conflict Dating aggression

Parental alienation Parental closeness Anger regulation Peer alienation Attitudes re: Aggression. Interparental conflict Peer closeness Romantic Attach. Dating aggression

Method Sample year olds (172 girls, 115 boys) -Ethnicity: 57% Anglo American 20% Latino 12% African American 4% Asian 4% Biracial or other 2% Native American

Measures - Dating aggression. Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory (CADRI; Wolfe, 2001) - Interparental conflict: Childrens Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale (CPIC; Grych, Seid, & Fincham, 1992) - Parent-Child Relationship: Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA; Armsden & Greenberg, 1987) - Peer Relationships: Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA) - Romantic Attachment Style: Experiences in Close Relationships Scale (ECR; Brennan, Shaver, & Clark, 1998). Anxiety and Avoidance scales

1.Do positive peer relationships buffer the effects of interparental conflict on dating aggression? Boys: No Girls: Yes StepVariable b R 2 1. Interparental Conflict Peer Closeness Interaction of Interparental Conflict & Peer Closeness -.18*.05*

Plot of Conflict-Closeness Interaction (Girls) Interparental Conflict DATINGAGGDATINGAGG Poor peer rels r =.28 Close peer rels r = -.06

2.Does integrating family and peer relationships with cognitive and emotional processes better predict aggression in teen dating relationships ?

Dating Aggression Girls Boys Individual factors Attitudes re: Aggression.25*.29* Anger regulation.23*.50* Family factors Interparental Conflict Closeness to Mother Closeness to Father Alienation from Mother.21*.19 Alienation from Father Peer factors Closeness to Peers Alienation from Peers.12.23* Anxious Rom. Attach..20*.27* Avoidant Rom. Attach * p <.07 * p <.05

Dating Aggression Girls Boys Individual factors Attitudes re: Aggression.25*.29* Anger regulation.23*.50* Family factors Interparental Conflict Closeness to Mother Closeness to Father Alienation from Mother.21*.19 Alienation from Father Peer factors Closeness to Peers Alienation from Peers.12.23* Anxious Rom. Attach..20*.27* Avoidant Rom. Attach * p <.07 * p <.05

Dating Aggression Girls Boys Individual factors Attitudes re: Aggression.25*.29* Anger regulation.23*.50* Family factors Interparental Conflict Closeness to Mother Closeness to Father Alienation from Mother.21*.19+ Alienation from Father Peer factors Closeness to Peers Alienation from Peers.12.23* Anxious Rom. Attach..20*.27* Avoidant Rom. Attach * p <.07 * p <.05

Dating Aggression Girls Boys Individual factors Attitudes re: Aggression.25*.29* Anger regulation.23*.50* Family factors Interparental Conflict Closeness to Mother Closeness to Father Alienation from Mother.21*.19+ Alienation from Father Peer factors Closeness to Peers Alienation from Peers.12.23* Anxious Rom. Attach..20*.27* Avoidant Rom. Attach * p <.07 * p <.05

Mediational model for boys Interparental conflict Alienation From Mother Closeness To Mother Anger Regulation Aggressive Attitudes Alienation From Peers Closeness To Peers Anxious Rom. Attach. Dating Aggression.79**.90** 2.85* +p <.08 *p <.05 **p <.01.12* *.42**.34** Notes: path coefficients are unstandardized

Mediational model for girls Interparental conflict Alienation From Mother Closeness To Mother Anger Regulation Aggressive Attitudes Alienation From Peers Closeness To Peers Anxious Rom. Attach. Dating Aggression.57**.31* p <.08 *p <.05 **p <.01.15**.02** ** Notes: path coefficients are unstandardized

Predicting Anxious Romantic Attachment Alienation From Mother Closeness To Mother Anxious Rom. Attach Alienation From Peers Closeness To Peers Anger Regulation

Predicting Anxious Romantic Attachment in Boys Alienation From Mother Closeness To Mother Anxious Rom. Attach. Alienation From Peers Closeness To Peers Anger Regulation +p <.08 *p <.05 **p < **.20.05*.08**.01.40*.03+ Notes: path coefficients are unstandardized

Predicting Anxious Romantic Attachment in Girls Alienation From Mother Closeness To Mother Anxious Rom. Attach. Alienation From Peers Closeness To Peers Anger Regulation +p <.08 *p <.05 **p < **.01.04*.13**.02**.53**.11+ Notes: path coefficients are unstandardized

Conclusions 1. Good peer relationships can buffer the adverse effects of interparental conflict on dating aggression, at least for girls 2. Integrating interpersonal relationships and individual characteristics provides better prediction of adolescent dating aggression 3. Alienation shows continuity from parent-child to peer relationships and predicts orientation toward romantic relationships; closeness/support may be more relationship-specific.