LOVE, AGGRESSION AND SATISFACTION IN DATING RELATIONSHIPS

This study examined (1) whether certain lovestyles facilitate aggressi on in dating relationships and (2) the effects of aggression on relati onship satisfaction (i.e. its main, mediating and moderating effects). The sample consisted of 149 female undergraduate students involved in an ongoing heterosexual dating relationship. Multiple regression anal yses indicated that Mania was the strongest predictor of courtship agg ression. In terms of the impact of aggression on relationship satisfac tion, aggression had a main effect on satisfaction as well as moderate d the relationship between certain lovestyles and satisfaction. Howeve r, aggression did not mediate the association between lovestyles and s atisfaction. The implications of, and some possible explanations for, these findings are discussed.