Psychopathological Factors and Perpetration of Intimate Partner Aggression: A Multivariate Model.

Using a sample of 1,190 married Spanish community couples in opposite-sex relationships, this study evaluated a path analytic model exploring the associations between individual and dyadic factors and partner aggression for both males and females. Specifically, the perpetrator's report of their individual mental health symptomatology (borderline and antisocial traits, alcohol use), their report of relationship quality, and their report of perpetration were modeled to predict their partner's victimization. The resultant model exhibited good fit as measured by multiple indices for both male-to-female and female-to-male perpetration. Furthermore, results demonstrated that antisocial and borderline traits were associated with each other, that alcohol use was associated with perpetration, and that one partner's perpetration was associated with his or her partner's victimization for both males and females. However, the pattern of significant pathways between individual pathology and relationship violence differed somewhat for male-to-female and female-to-male aggression. Given the results, policy makers concerned about prevention of partner aggression may consider interventions aimed at symptoms associated with antisocial and borderline traits and substance use, and may identify differential targets for intervention based on the perpetrator's gender.

Psychometric properties of the Aggression Questionnaire: A replication in a sample of partner-assaultive men in psychological treatment / Propiedades psicométricas del Cuestionario de Agresión: una replicación en una muestra de maltratadores en tratamiento psicológico

Background: The Aggression Questionnaire (Buss & Perry, 1992) is one of the most widely used validated self-report measures to assess aggression. This study analyzes the factorial structure, internal consistency, and convergent validity of the AQ in a Spanish sample with high levels of violence. Method: The questionnaire was administered to 767 partner-assaultive men undergoing psychological treatment. Results: The results of the confirmatory factor analysis supported the four-factor structure. Also, positive correlations between the AQ and other instruments measuring aggression were found, finding that aggression and anger decrease with age in this sample. Conclusions: The results obtained showed that the AQ is a suitable instrument to assess aggression, anger, and hostility in partner-assaultive men (AU)

Antecedentes: el Cuestionario de Agresión (Buss & Perry, 1992) constituye una de las medidas de auto-informe más utilizadas para medir agresión. Este estudio analiza la estructural factorial, consistencia interna y validez convergente del AQ en una muestra española con altos niveles de violencia. Método: el cuestionario fue aplicado a 767 maltratadores que se encontraban bajo tratamiento psicológico. Resultados: los resultados del análisis factorial confirmatorio apoyan la estructura de cuatro factores. Asimismo, se encontraron correlaciones positivas y significativas entre el AQ y otros instrumentos que miden agresión, encontrándose que la agresión y la ira disminuyen con la edad en esta muestra. Conclusiones: los resultados obtenidos permiten concluir que el AQ es un instrumento adecuado para evaluar agresión, ira y hostilidad en hombres que maltratan a sus parejas (AU)

Relationship satisfaction and interpartner agreement about acts of physical and psychological aggression: a multilevel analysis.

BACKGROUND: To analyze, in a multilevel context, the impact of individual-level relationship satisfaction on couples' mean reports of aggression and agreement about acts of physical and psychological aggression. METHODS: We conducted a quota sampling method to recruit a community sample of 2.988 heterosexual adult couples from the Region of Madrid (Spain). RESULTS: The percentages of intimate partner aggression considering the highest report of aggression in the couple were around 60% of psychological aggression and 15% of physical aggression. Couples that used aggressive tactics showed low to moderate levels of agreement about physical and psychological aggression. Multilevel models confirm that women's relationship satisfaction had a significant influence on the level of agreement about acts of psychological aggression, but the same pattern of results was not observed for men. On the other hand, men and women's relationship satisfaction had no significant influence on the level of agreement about physical aggression. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological aggression plays a more relevant role in women's relationship satisfaction than physical aggression.

Factores de riesgo psicopatológicos para la agresión en la pareja en una muestra comunitaria / Psychopathological risk factors for partner aggression in a community sample

El presente estudio examina desde las perspectivas del desarrollo y diádica el valor predictivo de determinadas variables psicopatológicas para la agresión física en una muestra de 2.032 parejas heterosexuales pertenecientes a la Comunidad de Madrid, mediante la Escala de Tácticas para el Conflicto (CTS-2). Los resultados mostraron una prevalencia de agresión psicológica superior a la agresión física y diferencias significativas en agresión física de bajo nivel en el caso de las mujeres, 13% vs. 10%, χ2(1, N = 4.064) = 7.43, p < .001. Los resultados confirman que los síntomas de hostilidad, los rasgos de personalidad impulsiva, límite, antisocial, el consumo de alcohol y la experiencia de victimización tienen un mayor impacto en hombres y mujeres jóvenes (18-29 años). Se discuten las implicaciones de los resultados para la prevención y terapia de pareja

The present study examines the predictive value of certain psychopathological variables for physical aggression, from the developmental and dyadic perspectives, in a sample of 2,032 heterosexual couples from the Madrid Region, through the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS-2). The results showed a higher prevalence of psychological aggression than of physical aggression, and significant differences in low level physical aggression in the case of women, 13% vs. 10%, χ2(1, N = 4.064) = 7.43, p <.001. The results confirm that symptoms of hostility, impulsive, borderline, and antisocial personality traits, alcohol consumption, and the experience of victimization have a greater impact on younger men and women (18-29 years). The implications of the results for prevention of partner violence and for couple therapy are discussed

Can You Be Hit by Your Partner and Be Intensely in Love?

This study examines, in a multilevel context, the influence of intensity of love at an individual level on couples' mean reports of psychological and physical aggression in a sample of 2,988 adult couples of both sexes from the Region of Madrid. The percentages of intimate partner aggression considering the highest report of aggression in the couple were around 60% of psychological aggression and 15% of physical aggression. Multilevel models confirm that individuals who were less intensely in love reported a higher level of psychological aggression. Concerning physical aggression, men who declared they were less intensely in love reported a higher level of physical aggression by their partners, but this pattern was not found in the women. Therefore, psychological aggression plays a more relevant role in the intensity of love than physical aggression.

Intensity of Love in a Community Sample of Spanish Couples in the Region of Madrid.

Intensity of love was examined in a representative community sample of 2,988 couples, from the Region of Madrid (Spain). Gender differences revealed no significant differences in intensity of love. Twenty-five percent of the participants who were in a relationship of less than 10 years and eleven percent of the participants in a relationship of more than 30 years reported being "very intensely in love" F(3, 5.972) = 191.32, p < .001, ηp 2 = 0.08. The cognitive variables, thinking positively about the partner and thinking about the partner when apart, were significant predictors of the intensity of long-term love for both men and women. Affection was also positively associated with intense love for men (r = .47, p < .001) and women (r = .52, p < .001); sexual intercourse was for women (r = .36, p < .001) but not for men. Wanting to know the whereabouts of partner was associated with the intensity of love for women (r = .15, p < .05), but not for men. Engaging in novel activities with partner was not associated with intense love for male or females. As predicted, love declined significantly in the first decade of marriage, but not much after that. The percentage of men and women who reported being intensely in love was lower than that obtained in the U.S.

Intensity of love in a community sample of Spanish couples in the region of Madrid

Intensity of love was examined in a representative community sample of 2,988 couples, from the Region of Madrid (Spain). Gender differences revealed no significant differences in intensity of love. Twenty-five percent of the participants who were in a relationship of less than 10 years and eleven percent of the participants in a relationship of more than 30 years reported being «very intensely in love» F(3, 5.972) = 191.32, p < .001, ηp2 = 0.08. The cognitive variables, thinking positively about the partner and thinking about the partner when apart, were significant predictors of the intensity of long-term love for both men and women. Affection was also positively associated with intense love for men (r = .47, p < .001) and women (r = .52, p < .001); sexual intercourse was for women (r = .36, p < .001) but not for men. Wanting to know the whereabouts of partner was associated with the intensity of love for women (r = .15, p < .05), but not for men. Engaging in novel activities with partner was not associated with intense love for male or females. As predicted, love declined significantly in the first decade of marriage, but not much after that. The percentage of men and women who reported being intensely in love was lower than that obtained in the U.S (AU)

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Subtypes of batterers in treatment: empirical support for a distinction between type I, type II and type III.

This study explores the existence of different types of batterers in a sample of 266 men who had been court referred for intimate partner violence. The data collected in the assessment that have been used to perform a hierarchical and a two-step cluster analysis fall into three areas: aggression towards the partner, general aggression and presence of psychopathology and personality traits, more specifically, alcohol use, borderline and antisocial personality traits, psychopathy traits, state anger and trait anger, anger expression and control, anger, hostility, and, finally, impulsivity. The results show a typology consisting of 3 types of batterers on the basis of violence level and psychopathology: low (65%), moderate (27.8%) and high (7.1%). This study provides empirical support for the development of batterer typologies. These typologies will help achieve early detection of different types of batterers, allowing us to tailor interventions on the basis of the needs of each of the types.

Self-reported physical and emotional abuse among youth offenders and their association with internalizing and externalizing psychopathology: a preliminary study.

The aim of this exploratory study was twofold. First, the severity of physical and emotional abuse perpetrated by parents and its association with internalizing and externalizing problems were explored in a sample of 104 male and female youth offenders. Second, we tested the moderate effect of callous-unemotional traits on the relation between physical and emotional victimization and internalizing and externalizing problems in boys. The analyses revealed that a high percentage of youth offenders reported having been physically abused. More severe physical abuse was not related to higher levels of internalizing or externalizing problems. Young offenders' emotional abuse levels were low; however, this type of abuse was positively associated with externalizing problems among boys, regardless of the level of callous-unemotional traits. Thus, we suggest that youth offenders must be assessed using measures of physical and emotional abuse, and their case management should integrate specific programs to focus on the family environment to which the adolescents will most likely return after their sentence.

Abuso psicológico en parejas jóvenes / Psychological abuse in young couples

El abuso psicológico es uno de los comportamientos agresivos más frecuentes en las relaciones de noviazgo en jóvenes. Así, actos de crítica constantes y/o agresión verbal y/o actos de aislamiento y dominación son conductas relevantes que se relacionan estrechamente y suelen preceder a los actos de violencia física. En el presente trabajo, se revisan los instrumentos de evaluación más útiles para la detección de este tipo de conductas así como de los programas de intervención preventiva realizados hasta la fecha. Se finaliza con algunas recomendaciones para la elaboración de programas de prevención (AU)

Psychological abuse is one of the most common aggressive behaviors in dating relationships among youths. Thus, acts of constant criticism and/or verbal aggression and/or acts of isolation and dominance are relevant behaviors that are closely related and often precede physical violence. In this paper, we review the most useful assessment tools for the detection of this type of behavior as well as the preventive intervention programs to date. Some recommendations are made for the development of prevention programs

[Relationship between dating violence and use of alcohol and illegal drugs in Spanish adolescents and young adults]. / Violencia en el noviazgo y consumo de alcohol y drogas ilegales entre adolescentes y jóvenes españoles.

The goal of this study is to examine the relationship between substance use (i.e., alcohol and illegal drugs) and dating aggression in couples of adolescents and young adults. The sample comprised 1,282 people of between 15 and 20 years of age. Through cluster analysis, three groups of young people with different levels of substance use were identified: low, intermediate, and high use of alcohol and illegal drugs. Through logistic regression analysis, high levels of alcohol and illegal drug use were revealed to significantly increase the probability of reporting physical and sexual aggression in both sexes. Likewise, young people with high levels of use more frequently reported that they were the ones who initiated episodes of aggression against their partners. The results suggest that alcohol and drug use is a risk factor for dating aggression, a finding that should be taken into account for the prevention of intimate partner violence, beginning in adolescence.

Violencia en el noviazgo y consumo de alcohol y drogas ilegales entre adolescentes y jóvenes españoles / Relationship between dating violence and use of alcohol and illegal drugs in Spanish adolescents and young adults

El objetivo de este estudio fue examinar la relación entre consumo de sustancias (i. e., alcohol y drogas ilegales) y violencia en parejas de adolescentes y jóvenes. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 1.282 participantes entre 15 y 20 años. A través de análisis de conglomerados se identificaron tres grupos de adolescentes y jóvenes con diferentes niveles de consumo de sustancias: bajo, moderado y elevado consumo de alcohol y drogas ilegales. Se efectuaron varios análisis de regresión logística para pronosticar cada tipo de agresión contra la pareja (física, psicológica y sexual) a partir del nivel de uso de sustancias. Niveles elevados de consumo de alcohol y drogas ilegales incrementaron significativamente la probabilidad de informar de agresión física y sexual para ambos sexos. Asi mismo, los participantes con un nivel elevado de consumo informaron con mayor frecuencia que eran ellos quienes iniciaban los episodios de agresión contra su pareja. Los resultados sugieren que el uso de alcohol y drogas constituye un factor de riesgo para la violencia en el noviazgo, hecho que ha de ser tenido en cuenta para la prevención de la violencia en la pareja ya desde la adolescencia (AU)

The goal of this study is to examine the relationship between substance use (i.e., alcohol and illegal drugs) and dating aggression in couples of adolescents and young adults. The sample comprised 1,282 people of between 15 and 20 years of age. Through cluster analysis, three groups of young people with different levels of substance use were identified: low, intermediate, and high use of alcohol and illegal drugs. Through logistic regression analysis, high levels of alcohol and illegal drug use were revealed to significantly increase the probability of reporting physical and sexual aggression in both sexes. Likewise, young people with high levels of use more frequently reported that they were the ones who initiated episodes of aggression against their partners. The results suggest that alcohol and drug use is a risk factor for dating aggression, a finding that should be taken into account for the prevention of intimate partner violence, beginning in adolescence (AU)

Prevalence and predictors of sexual aggression in dating relationships of adolescents and young adults / Prevalencia y predictores de la agresión sexual en las relaciones de noviazgo en adolescentes y jóvenes

Dyadic influences among the diverse forms of aggression in dating relationships of adolescents and young adults have been reported in various studies. The goal of this research was to extend a dyadic model of physical aggression against partners to sexual aggression against partners. An urban sample of 4,052 adolescents and young adults of both genders, between 16 and 26 years old, was used. The percentage of male aggressors was significantly higher than that of the females (35.7% vs. 14.9%) and the percentage of victimization was higher for the women (25.1% vs.21.7%). Sexual aggression and sexual victimization was almost solely psychological in nature, that is, verbal coercion. As predicted by the dyadic model of physical aggression in dating relationships, sexual victimization was best predicted by sexual aggression of the individuals in this study both for males and females (AU)

Son muchos los estudios publicados que analizan las influencias diádicas en las relaciones de noviazgo en adolescentes y jóvenes adultos. El objetivo de este estudio consiste en aplicar el modelo diádico de la agresión física hacia las parejas a la agresión sexual contra las parejas. Se ha utilizado una muestra de 4.052 adolescentes y jóvenes adultos de ambos sexos, con edades comprendidas entre los 16 y los 26 años. El porcentaje de hombres agresores es significativamente superior que el de mujeres (35.7% vs 14,9%), y el porcentaje de víctimas de agresión sexual fue superior para las mujeres (25,1% vs 21,7%). Los resultados muestran que tanto la agresión como la victimización sexual son fundamentalmente de naturaleza psicológica, como, por ejemplo, la utilización de tácticas coercitivas de naturaleza verbal. Tal como predice el modelo diádico de agresión física en las relaciones de noviazgo, la victimización sexual se predice en función de la agresión sexual de los individuos estudiados tanto en el caso de los hombres como en el de las mujeres (AU)

Prevalence and predictors of sexual aggression in dating relationships of adolescents and young adults.

Dyadic influences among the diverse forms of aggression in dating relationships of adolescents and young adults have been reported in various studies. The goal of this research was to extend a dyadic model of physical aggression against partners to sexual aggression against partners. An urban sample of 4,052 adolescents and young adults of both genders, between 16 and 26 years old, was used. The percentage of male aggressors was significantly higher than that of the females (35.7% vs. 14.9%) and the percentage of victimization was higher for the women (25.1% vs.21.7%). Sexual aggression and sexual victimization was almost solely psychological in nature, that is, verbal coercion. As predicted by the dyadic model of physical aggression in dating relationships, sexual victimization was best predicted by sexual aggression of the individuals in this study both for males and females.

Alcohol craving scale based on three factors.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol craving is a central aspect of alcoholism about which various explanatory theories and assessment questionnaires, based on such craving, have been developed. However, there are no instruments for the assessment of craving in line with the integrative hypotheses recently formulated that propose three types of craving: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and loss of control. OBJECTIVES: The construction and validation of a craving scale based on three factors. We expect to obtain a correlation between each factor and associated variables from prior studies. We also expect significant differences in craving between alcoholic individuals and controls. SAMPLE: The scale was administered to 209 alcohol-dependent subjects and 137 controls. INSTRUMENTS: Alcohol Craving Scale Based on Three Factors (ACS-3F); Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, Severity of Alcohol Dependence Scale. RESULTS: We confirmed the existence of the three factors initially proposed in the structure of the instrument, with high reliability. The relationship between the scale and the measures employed for its validation was confirmed. Adequate capacity of the scale to discriminate between the sample of alcoholics and the controls was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The ACS-3F has adequate psychometric properties and may be useful in future research and in clinical practice.

Perfiles de personalidad en subtipos de drogodependientes en tratamiento acusados de delito / Personality profiles in subtypes of drug addicts in treatment with a criminal record

Este estudio examina las diferencias en características de personalidad en drogodependientes policonsumidores (funcionales y crónicos) en función de su implicación o no en conductas delictivas. Se aplicó el Índice europeo de severidad de la adicción (EuropASI), el Inventario NEO reducido (NEO-FFI) y el Examen internacional de los trastornos de la personalidad (IPDE) a 320 sujetos de ambos sexos, entre los 17 y los 60 años. Los consumidores funcionales acusados previamente de haber cometido algún delito tuvieron puntuaciones superiores en rasgos de trastornos de la personalidad esquizoide, disocial, límite e histriónico frente a los no acusados. En los drogodependientes crónicos, aquellos que habían sido acusados de cometer delitos mostraron mayor puntuación en las dimensiones de personalidad normal relacionadas con la extraversión y apertura a la experiencia. En cuanto a los rasgos de trastornos de personalidad sólo el disocial fue significativo al compararlo con aquellos que no habían sido acusados de cometer delitos. El establecimiento de una adecuada caracterización de los drogodependientes mediante tipologías, así como la elaboración de perfiles de personalidad en los que se tenga en cuenta su implicación en características delictivas supone una profundización de cara a implementar estrategias de cambio más eficaces para sus conductas disfuncionales (AU)

This study examines the differences in the personality traits of polydrug addicts (functional and chronics) as a function of whether or not they had been involved in delinquent behaviors. An assessment protocol, which comprises the European Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI), the Reduced NEO Inventory (NEO-FFI), and the International Personality Disorder Examination (IPDE), was administered to 320 drug addicts of both sexes, of ages between 17 and 60 years. The results showed that the functional consumers who had previously been charged with crimes scored higher in the schizoid, dissocial, borderline, and histrionic traits of personality disorders than the consumers who had not been charged. In the chronic drug-addicts, individuals who had been charged with crimes scored higher in the normal personality dimensions related to extraversion and openness to experience. With regard to personality disorder traits, only the dissocial trait was significant when this group was compared with drug-addicts who had not been charged. The establishment of an adequate description of drug-addicts by typologies, as well as with the elaboration of personality profiles in which their participation in criminal actions is taken into account implies an in-depth study in order to apply more efficient strategies to modify their dysfunctional behavior

Aggression in adolescent dating relationships: prevalence, justification, and health consequences.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of verbally and physically aggressive behaviors in dating relationships in a sample of Spanish adolescents. METHODS: Cross-sectional self-report data were obtained with The Modified Conflict Tactics Scale (MCTS) from a representative sample of 2416 adolescents and young adults of both genders, between ages of 16 and 20 years. RESULTS: The results showed that a significantly higher percentage of women engaged in verbal aggression (95.3% vs. 92.8%), whereas the males engaged in more severe physical aggression (4.6% vs. 2.0%) and produced worse consequences for their female partners' health (especially slight cuts/slight bruises, broken nose, black eye, broken bone and requiring medical treatment/hospitalization). Justification for aggression also revealed differential results. Whereas women said they attacked their partners while under the influence of emotional states of intense anger (22.4% vs. 13.9%), the males said they did so in response to aggression received (13.0% vs. 6.6%). The analysis of the group differences as a function of age showed that verbal aggression was very high and was not different across the age groups. In contrast, physical aggression decreased significantly across the age groups, but health consequences became more severe with age (e.g., broken nose, black eye, broken bone, went from 1% at 16 years to 4.5% at 20 years of age). CONCLUSIONS: These differential tendencies of aggression typology for men and women help clinicians to develop preventive interventions for every age, with the aim of diminishing their continuity in future relationships.