Intergenerational transmission of dating aggression as a function of witnessing only same sex parents vs. opposite sex parents vs. both parents as perpetrators of domestic violence
Mk. Jankowski et al., Intergenerational transmission of dating aggression as a function of witnessing only same sex parents vs. opposite sex parents vs. both parents as perpetrators of domestic violence, J FAM VIOL, 14(3), 1999, pp. 267-279
The present study examined the association between witnessing interparental
violence as a child, and the risk for perpetrating and being the victim of
dating aggression as an adult, in an undergraduate sample. Specifically, t
his study tested a modeling hypothesis whereby witnessing a same sex parent
vs, an opposite sex parent exclusively in the aggressor role would be more
highly associated with risk for perpetrating dating aggression. Similarly,
observing a same sex parent vs. an opposite sex parent as exclusively a vi
ctim of marital aggression would be associated with risk for being a victim
of dating aggression. A same sex modeling effect was found for perpetratio
n of dating aggression. Respondents who witnessed only their same sex paren
t perpetrate physical marital aggression were at increased risk for perpetr
ating physical dating aggression, whereas respondents who witnessed only th
eir opposite sex parent perpetrate were not. A same sex modeling effect, ho
wever, was not found for being a victim of dating aggression. Rather, risk
for victimization by dating aggression was associated only with witnessing
bidirectional marital violence. Implications of these results, limitations
of the present study, and ideas for future research are discussed.