CHILDHOOD MALTREATMENT AND ADOLESCENT ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR: Romantic Relationship Quality as Moderator Susaye S. Rattigan, M.A. & Manfred H.M. van Dulmen, Ph.D. Kent State University, Department of Psychology Background & Rationale Aims of Present Study Results Conclusions/Limitations. Abstract Method Add Health Acknowledgment This research uses data from Add Health, a program project designed by J. Richard Udry, Peter S. Bearman, and Kathleen Mullan Harris, and funded by a grant P01-HD31921 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, with cooperative funding from 17 other agencies. Special acknowledgment is due Ronald R. Rindfuss and Barbara Entwisle for assistance in the original design. Persons interested in obtaining data files from Add Health should contact Add Health, Carolina Population Center, 123 W. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC To investigate the role of childhood maltreatment and romantic relationship quality in predicting adolescent antisocial behavior To examine the differential role of gender in predicting the role of adolescent romantic relationship in the link between childhood maltreatment and adolescent antisocial behavior. Data for the current study were drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health Wave I and II) dataset. The Add Health study was designed to assess the health status and explore the causes of health-related problems among adolescents in grades 7 to 12. All predictor variables included in the model (except romantic relationship quality) were dichotomous variables created from self- report measures in the dataset. Childhood maltreatment history assessed whether participants have ever experienced abuse (sexual, physical or psychological) or neglect. Romantic relationship quality identified specific activities that occurred within the first identified romantic relationship reported on a Likert scale (with values from 1-5); and The criterion variable, antisocial behavior identified individuals’ participation in aggressive and non-aggressive antisocial activities during the past 18 months. Age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, family structure and gender were also included as controls in the model. Analyses Preliminary analyses were conducted in SPSS 15 Each model was tested using Negative Binomial Regressions in STATA 10 to allow inclusion of sample weights Two and three-way interaction terms created using cross- products of Childhood maltreatment, romantic relationship quality and gender. Age, ethnicity, ses, family structure were included as controls in each analysis. Significant interaction terms were examined separately by genders. Adolescent antisocial behavior (ASB) is a major social and public health concern. Although the rates of antisocial behavior have declined over the last decade, adolescents still engage in antisocial behavior at high rates (CDC, 2006). Due to the physical, psychological, and economic costs associated with antisocial behavior, scholars have begun to identify specific mechanisms that may mitigate the development and maintenance of these behaviors (Widom, 2000; Herrenkohl et al, 2003). One factor that has been identified as a key predictor of adolescent antisocial behavior is a history of childhood maltreatment (Fergusson & Lynskey, 1996; Higgins & McCabe, 2003; Smith & Thornberry, 1995). Empirical findings have indicated that adolescent romantic relationships may modify risk for antisocial behavior. Low romantic relationship quality has been found to increase the risk for antisocial behavior while high quality relationships may reduce risk for antisocial behavior. Little empirical examinations have been conducted to examine the role of romantic relationship quality in maltreated adolescents’ lives. 1.) Romantic relationship quality (RRQ) was found to moderate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and adolescent antisocial behavior. 2.) When examining significant three-way interactions, the effect of romantic relationships on childhood maltreatment and adolescent antisocial behavior is gender specific. 3). Males with a history of childhood maltreatment, and low quality romantic relationships were at greater risk for aggressive antisocial behavior in Wave II. (B =.096 (SE).03), p < 0.01). The findings of this study show that adolescent males with a history of maltreatment are particularly at risk of engaging in antisocial behavior if their romantic relationships are of low quality. Romantic relationships in adolescence may have greater impact on male antisocial behavior compared to females. Examination of romantic partner antisocial behavior may enhance prediction of antisocial behavior. Romantic relationship involvement between Waves I and II were not accounted for. Research has shown that childhood maltreatment is a risk factor for adolescent antisocial behavior, and studies have also found romantic relationship quality to act as a protective factor against adolescent antisocial behavior. However, few studies have examined whether romantic relationship quality moderates the relationship between childhood maltreatment and adolescent antisocial behavior. Additionally, empirical evidence suggests that these relationships may differ depending on gender of the adolescent. Using data from a large U.S. representative sample (AddHealth), this study found that romantic relationship quality alone does not significantly moderate the relationship between CM and adolescent antisocial behavior. However, this study did find that romantic relationship quality interacts with gender to moderate that relationship. Males with a history of maltreatment, are involved in low quality romantic relationships and who have been maltreated are particularly at risk of engaging in aggressive antisocial behavior during late adolescence. For additional information please contact Susaye Rattigan at For handouts please visit Adolescent Developmental Psychopathology Lab Website