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Longitudinal Mediators of Relations Between Family Violence and Adolescent Dating Aggression Perpetration
Author(s) -
Reyes H. Luz McNaughton,
Foshee Vangie A.,
Fortson Beverly L.,
Valle Linda A.,
Breiding Matthew J.,
Merrick Melissa T.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of marriage and family
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.578
H-Index - 159
eISSN - 1741-3737
pISSN - 0022-2445
DOI - 10.1111/jomf.12200
Subject(s) - aggression , psychology , human factors and ergonomics , dating violence , poison control , longitudinal study , developmental psychology , injury prevention , suicide prevention , occupational safety and health , domestic violence , social psychology , medical emergency , medicine , pathology
Few longitudinal studies have examined the pathways through which family violence leads to dating aggression. In the current study the authors used 3 waves of data obtained from 8th‐ and 9th‐grade adolescents ( N = 1,965) to examine the hypotheses that the prospective relationship between witnessing family violence and directly experiencing violence and physical dating aggression perpetration is mediated by 3 constructs: (a) normative beliefs about dating aggression (norms), (b) anger dysregulation, and (c) depression. Results from cross‐lagged regression models suggest that the relationship between having been hit by an adult and dating aggression is mediated by changes in norms and anger dysregulation, but not depression. No evidence of indirect effects from witnessing family violence to dating aggression was found through any of the proposed mediators. Taken together, the findings suggest that anger dysregulation and normative beliefs are potential targets for dating abuse prevention efforts aimed at youth who have directly experienced violence.