Experiencing Emotional Abuse during Childhood and Witnessing Interparental Verbal Aggression as Related to Emotional Aggression in Undergraduate Dating Relationships

The present study examined whether witnessing interparental verbal aggression and/or experiencing emotional abuse during childhood were associated with emotional abuse in current or recent dating relationships in college students (M = 19.51 years; SD = 2.02). Participants (N = 715) completed the Conflicts Tactics 2-CA Scale (Straus & Donnelly, 2001), the Exposure to Abusive and Supportive Environments Parenting Inventory (Nicholas & Bieber, 1997), and the Emotional Abuse Scale (Murphy & Hoover, 1999). Results showed that witnessing interparental verbal aggression predicted males‟ self-use of Restrictive Engulfment and their partners‟ use of Restrictive Engulfment. For females, witnessing interparental verbal aggression predicted self-use of Dominance/Intimidation in dating relationships. Experiencing childhood emotional abuse predicted males‟ use of Denigration and Dominance/Intimidation in dating relationships. For females, experiencing childhood emotional abuse predicted self-use of Denigration, Hostile Withdrawal, and Dominance/Intimidation and their partners‟ use of Denigration and Hostile Withdrawal in dating relationships. These results suggest that exposure to interparental verbal aggression and experiences of emotional abuse by parents prior to age 16 are related to young adults‟ self-reports of emotionally abusive behavior in their dating relationships and, to a lesser extent, their partners‟ use of these emotionally abusive behaviors. N umerous studies have shown that interparental violence and childhood physical abuse are related to negative adult outcomes (Paradis et al., 2009; Sappington, 2000). Relative to the effects of exposure to interpersonal aggression in childhood on later intimate partner aggression, we know much less about how childhood emotional abuse may be associated with interpersonal aggression in young adulthood. Thus, the focus of the present study was whether experiences of interparental verbal aggression and emotional abuse during childhood relate to emotional abuse in dating relationships in a college student population. Although there is no standard definition of emotional abuse, for the purpose of the present study, emotional abuse is defined as acts that are aversive or coercive and are intended to produce emotional harm or threat of harm (Murphy & Hoover, 1999). Unlike physically abusive behaviors, emotionally abusive behaviors are oriented towards psychological harm, which targets one‟s self-concept. Contemporary researchers have accepted that emotional abuse may be one of the most destructive and pervasive forms of abuse. In fact, some researchers now believe that emotional abuse may constitute a core component of all forms of child abuse and neglect (Wright, 2007). Although some studies have shown that interpersonal violence is associated with psychosocial problems (such as, depression and anxiety (Bourassa, 2007; Howells & Rosenbaum, 2007), the ways in which emotional abuse can affect later development are not well understood. However, during the past decade a number of studies have begun to examine this issue. 1 Milletich and Kelley: Experiencing Emotional Abuse during Childhood Published by ODU Digital Commons, 2010 The majority of the literature supports the idea that emotional abuse has a highly destructive influence on later dating relationships. In fact, Wright (2007) argued that emotional abuse may have a more negative influence on dating relationship behaviors than childhood physical abuse. Goldsmith and Freyd (2005) advocate this view regarding emotional abuse and report that individuals who have experienced emotional abuse have considerable difficulty recognizing their own emotions. The growing literature on the negative effects of emotional abuse is especially problematic given that emotional aggression predicts the onset of physical aggression among newlywed couples (Murphy & Cascardi, 1999). At present, a „gold standard‟ to measure emotional abuse does not exist. Rather, a number of measures have been developed to capture the breadth of emotionally abusive behaviors. Researchers have argued emotional abuse is a complex and multifact-orial construct. As such, the present study used a multifact-orial measure of emotional abuse, the Emotional Abuse Scale, developed by Murphy and colleagues (Murphy & Hoover, 1999; Murphy et al., 1999). More specifically, the Emotional Abuse Scale assesses four dimensions of emotional abuse. The first factor, Restrictive Engulfment, is intended to isolate the partner‟s activities and social contacts through the display of intense jealousy and possessiveness. These behaviors are assumed to have the effect of limiting perceived threats to the relationship by increasing the partner‟s dependency and availability. The second factor, Denigration, measures behaviors that are intended to humiliate and degrade the partner. These behaviors are assumed to reduce the partner‟s sense of self-worth. The third factor, Hostile Withdrawal, involves behaviors that are intended to withhold emotional contact and pull away from the partner in a hostile fashion. These behaviors are assumed to punish the partner and/or increase the partner‟s anxiety or insecurity about the relationship. The final factor, Dominance/Intimidation, assesses behaviors that include threats, property violence, and intense displays of verbal aggression. These behaviors are assumed to induce fear or submission in the partner through the overt display of aggression (Murphy & Hoover, 1999; Murphy et al., 1999). From the current literature, it was expected that experiences of interparental verbal aggression and emotional abuse during childhood would increase an individual‟s likelihood of exhibiting and/or experiencing emotionally aggressive behaviors in their current or past dating relationships. From this vantage, four hypotheses were developed: 1) Individuals who reported witnessing higher levels of interparental verbal aggression and higher levels of emotional abuse during childhood would report higher scores on the Emotional Abuse subscale of Restrictive Engulfment, 2) Individuals who reported witnessing higher levels of interparental verbal aggression and higher levels of emotional abuse during childhood would report higher scores on the Emotional Abuse subscale of Denigration, 3) Individuals who reported witnessing higher levels of interparental verbal aggression and higher levels of emotional abuse during childhood would report higher scores on the Emotional Abuse subscale of Hostile Withdrawal, and 4) Individuals who reported witnessing higher levels of interparental verbal aggression and higher levels of emotional abuse during childhood would report higher scores on the Emotional Abuse subscale of Dominance/Intimidation. In addition, gender was examined in the regression analyses. However, because little research has examined gender and emotional abuse, these analyses were considered exploratory and no specific directional hypotheses were made regarding gender. 2 OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal, Vol. 1 [2010], Art. 2 http://digitalcommons.odu.edu/ourj/vol1/iss1/2 Methods Participants Participants (N= 715) were selected from a convenience sample of students enrolled at a large university in southeastern Virginia (See Table 1). Criteria for participation included: 1) between 18 and 30 years of age, 2) never married, 3) participants resided with two biological parents or a biological parent and stepparent during childhood, 4) respondents were exclusively or mostly heterosexual, and 5) participants had experienced one or more dating relationships. All participants read a description of the study and indicated their willingness to participate prior to completing the online survey and receiving credit.