College Women’s Stay/Leave Decisions in Abusive Dating Relationships: A Prospective Analysis of an Expanded Investment Model

The purpose of the current study was to explore college women’s stay/ leave decisions in abusive relationships using a prospective methodology. Participants (N = 323) completed surveys at the beginning and end of a 10-week academic quarter for course credit. A path analysis suggested that the model—...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of interpersonal violence 2011-05, Vol.26 (7), p.1446-1462
Main Authors: Edwards, Katie M., Gidycz, Christine A., Murphy, Megan J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Avoidance
Battered Women - psychology
Behavior
Child Abuse
Childhood
College Students
Coping
Data Collection
Dating (Social)
Decision Making
Decisions
Domestic violence
Emotional Disturbances
Female
Females
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Interpersonal Relationship
Interpersonal Relationship Satisfaction
Models, Psychological
Partner Abuse
Path Analysis
Personal relationships
Prediction
Prospective Studies
Psychological Distress
Self Esteem
Spouse Abuse - psychology
Studies
Surveys
Surveys and Questionnaires
Universities
Violence
Women
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Description
Summary:The purpose of the current study was to explore college women’s stay/ leave decisions in abusive relationships using a prospective methodology. Participants (N = 323) completed surveys at the beginning and end of a 10-week academic quarter for course credit. A path analysis suggested that the model—which included investment model variables (i.e., relationship commitment, investment, satisfaction, and quality of alternatives), childhood abuse, psychological distress, avoidance coping, and self-esteem—was a good fit to the data and predicted abused women’s leaving behaviors over the interim. The implications of these findings for future research, theory, and clinical work are discussed.
ISSN:0886-2605
1552-6518
DOI:10.1177/0886260510369131