Most recent papers:

• Gender-based violence: Evidence from Europe.
  Stanley, Nicky; Devaney, John.
  Psychology of Violence. June 26, 2017
  Background: This special issue presents research undertaken in Europe on gender-based violence. The articles illustrate the range of European research reflecting the very different levels of gender equality, violence awareness, and policy and service development across the continent. While the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention approved in 2011 provides an influential framework for the evolution of law, policy, practice, and research on violence against women, it is as yet unevenly implemented. Key points: This high degree of variation argues for attention to context in research on gender-based violence so that cultural understandings and the local service landscape inform the generation and translation of knowledge and interventions. The articles included here address some prominent themes in current European research: the impact of interpersonal violence and abuse on children and young people; men’s roles as perpetrators, fathers, and victims; and the importance of particular settings and identities for understanding and responding to gender-based violence. We also identify some gaps and directions for future research. Implications: While the European Union has done much to foster the growth of research and the transfer of knowledge on gender-based violence across Europe, at the time of writing, its future looks less secure, and this is paralleled by political change in the United States. This loss of support from the center requires researchers and others to give more attention to mechanisms by which research and its products can be communicated and shared within and across continents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 26, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000120   open full text
• Resilience Portfolios and Poly-Strengths: Identifying Protective Factors Associated With Thriving After Adversity.
  Hamby, Sherry; Grych, John; Banyard, Victoria.
  Psychology of Violence. June 22, 2017
  Objective: Interest in protective factors for adversity has burgeoned, but the set of examined protective factors remains limited and most studies have focused on a single or narrow set of adversities. Using the resilience portfolio model as a conceptual framework, this study seeks to identify promising protective factors for individuals exposed to violence and other adversities. We include strengths drawn from the positive psychology literature in addition to established protective factors. We also explore the utility of the concept of poly-strengths, or the number of different types of protective factors an individual has. Method: Participants were 2,565 adolescents and adults from a rural, low-income community in southern Appalachia (64% female). Three kinds of adversity were assessed (victimization, stressful life events, financial strain) along with 23 protective factors representing 3 broader domains that are the focus of the resilience portfolio model: self-regulation, interpersonal strengths, and meaning-making. Results: The combination of strengths and adversities accounted for 42% of the variance in trauma symptoms, 50% of the variance in posttraumatic growth, and 58% of the variance in subjective well-being. Strengths associated with thriving included purpose, optimism, religious involvement, emotional regulation, emotional awareness, psychological endurance, compassion, generativity, and community support. Poly-strengths was uniquely associated with well-being after controlling for other protective factors. Conclusions: Expanding the range of studied protective factors and considering poly-strengths hold considerable promise to better understand resilience. A more strengths-based approach to prevention and intervention could improve outcomes in individuals who have experienced adversity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 22, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000135   open full text
• Association Between Unethical Battlefield Conduct and Mental Health: Implications for Leaders and Ethical Risk Assessments.
  Blanc, J.-R. Sébastien; Warner, Christopher H.; Ivey, Gary W.; Messervey, Deanna L.
  Psychology of Violence. June 19, 2017
  Objective: Excessively violent or otherwise inappropriate acts by military personnel on the modern battlefield can impede mission success, and they can have detrimental effects on the victims, witnesses, and perpetrators. This study provides new insights into the association between unethical battlefield conduct and mental health, as well as the processes through which misconduct on military operations occurs. Method: Through a comprehensive literature review, we examine the scope of issues around unethical battlefield conduct and we consider the association between unethical conduct and mental health from different perspectives. Results: Our review culminates in a process model that suggests that mental health problems, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can drive unethical battlefield conduct through anger induction and/or disregulation. Additionally, we propose a framework, the Triad of Ethical Risk, that underscores three factors that increase service members’ risk for acting unethically on the battlefield: (a) recent history of combat exposure, (b) history of committing offenses that underscore violence and/or impulsivity, and (c) recent history of anger-related behaviors. Conclusions: This practical framework can assist military leaders and health professionals in understanding the processes through which mental health can affect battlefield conduct, and in identifying personnel at risk of offending before they offend. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 19, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000128   open full text
• Students’ Feeling of Safety in Israeli Schools: A Place-Based Perspective.
  Yablon, Yaacov B.; Addington, Lynn A.
  Psychology of Violence. June 12, 2017
  Objective: Using the theoretical framework of place-based crime, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of violence on students’ feeling of safety in school. Method: A national representative sample of 2,199 Israeli Jewish and Arab 6th, 8th, and 10th graders participated in the study. School environment, school security measures and victimization were measured in addition to feeling of safety in 5 different locations is school. Results: Measuring safety in geographical microplaces in school yielded a better understanding of the contribution of violence and each of the school and demographic characteristics to students’ feeling of safety, as the feeling of safety varied by location. Male, Arab, and middle school students felt less safe than female, Jewish, elementary and high school students. The school climate, use of security measures and the measure of violence interacted with demographic factors and contributed differently to the feeling of safety in each of the school locations. Conclusion: The use of geographic microplaces yields a better understanding of the contribution of both the individual and the school characteristics to students’ feeling of safety in schools. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 12, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000133   open full text
• Understanding Formal Help-Seeking Among Women Whose Partners Are in Abuser Intervention Programs.
  Nnawulezi, Nkiru; Murphy, Christopher.
  Psychology of Violence. June 08, 2017
  Objective: Many abuser intervention programs (AIPs) conduct routine outreach with partners of abusive clients, providing a vital opportunity to support violence survivors during a precarious time in their relationships. However, very little is known about help-seeking and engagement with formal support services for this population of survivors. This study examines help-seeking behaviors reported by partners of clients receiving AIP services in the United States and explores demographic, emotional, and relationship factors that may influence formal help-seeking. Method: Women (N = 228) whose partners were receiving services at an AIP completed structured interviews assessing formal help-seeking behaviors, PTSD symptoms, and experiences of physical and emotional abuse. Results: A majority of survivors were active help-seekers, relying primarily on the police and courts for help. Yet, 28% of survivors had never sought formal support. There was a strong interrelationship among different types of formal help, including use of legal system, counseling, and shelter services. Black women were more likely than were other participants to seek help from police and clergy. Greater help seeking was also reported by women with higher levels of education, more PTSD symptoms, and greater exposure to emotional and physical abuse. Conclusions: Partner outreach is an overlooked opportunity to provide vital intervention support to survivors. New strategies are needed to provide community support for survivors who have not accessed formal help and to increase access for those with less education and resources. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 08, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000126   open full text
• Applying the Social–Ecological Framework to Explore Bully–Victim Subgroups in South Korean Schools.
  Hong, Jun Sung; Kim, Dong Ha; Hunter, Simon C.
  Psychology of Violence. June 05, 2017
  Objective: The present study sought to identify the structure of South Korean student bully and victim groups based upon longitudinal data and the association of groups with social–ecological based factors at the individual (age, sex, father and mothers’ educational status, household income, aggression, depression, smoking, drinking, type of family structure), family (neglect, abuse), friend–peer (peer relationships, number of delinquent friends), and school (school activity, school rules, teacher relationship) levels. Method: Participants were 2,284 2nd-year middle school students (50.5% male; Mage = 14.0 years) who completed the Korea Children and Youth Panel Survey annually for 3 years. Results: Latent class analysis identified victims (4.5%), bullies (2.8%), bully victims (1%), and uninvolved students (91.8%) across time. At the individual level, compared to uninvolved group, bully victims and bullies were more likely to smoke and drink alcohol; all subgroups had higher levels of aggression; and bullies and victims were more likely to have depression. At the friend–peer level, victims reported poorer quality peer relationships, and both bully victims and bullies reported having more delinquent friends. At the school level, victims and bullies reported being less likely to engage in school activities, and bullies and bully victims reported being less likely to follow school rules. Conclusion: Certain social–ecological variables are relevant risk factors associated with each group of adolescents in South Korea. Our findings call for a holistic intervention strategy that addresses not only bullying but also problems such as smoking and drinking and depressive symptomatology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 05, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000132   open full text
• Association Between the COMT Val158Met Polymorphism and Aggression in Psychosis: Test of a Moderated Mediation Model in a Forensic Inpatient Sample.
  van Dongen, Josanne D. M.; van Schaik, Ron H. N.; van Fessem, Marianne; van Marle, Hjalmar J. C.
  Psychology of Violence. May 29, 2017
  Objective: Aggression in schizophrenia can be explained by at least 2 different pathways. One of these pathways is aggression associated with comorbid antisocial characteristics. This pathway of aggressive behavior is likely to have a distinct underlying etiology, including particular genetic underpinnings. The Val allele of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism is found to be related to some forms of antisocial characteristics. This study aimed to examine the relation between the Val allele of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism and antisocial characteristics in forensic inpatients with a psychotic disorder and without a psychotic disorder. It was hypothesized that the relation between the Val allele and aggression would be mediated by diminished cognitive control (i.e., disinhibition). Method: A final sample of 71 male forensic inpatients were included and genotyped for the val158met SNP of the COMT gene. Self-reported aggression was measured with the Reactive–Proactive Aggression Questionnaire and different constructs of psychopathic traits (i.e., boldness, meanness and disinhibition) were measured using the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure. Results: Results showed that the Val allele was positively related to aggression and disinhibition in a subsample of patients with a psychotic disorder. Moreover, the relation between the Val allele and aggression in this subsample was conditionally mediated by disinhibition. Conclusion: These results indicate that aggression posed by patients with a psychotic disorder can be explained by different neurobiological pathways, 1 of which associated with a dysfunctional working of inhibitory control (i.e., disinhibition). These outcomes highlight the importance of personalized forensic treatment for specific subgroups of offenders with psychosis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  May 29, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000119   open full text
• Intergenerational Continuity of Psychological Violence: Intimate Partner Relationships and Harsh Parenting.
  Neppl, Tricia K.; Lohman, Brenda J.; Senia, Jennifer M.; Kavanaugh, Shane A.; Cui, Ming.
  Psychology of Violence. May 29, 2017
  Objective: This prospective, longitudinal investigation examined psychological violence across generations. We examined how parent psychological violence experienced during adolescence influenced the stability of one’s own intimate partner psychological violence perpetration across time and how psychological violence is related to harsh parenting in adulthood. Method: Data came from 193 parents and their adolescent who participated from adolescence through adulthood. Parental psychological violence was assessed in early adolescence. Partner violence was assessed in late adolescence, emerging adulthood, and adulthood. Harsh parenting to their offspring was assessed in adulthood. Results: Parent psychological violence in early adolescence was associated with one’s own intimate partner psychological violence in late adolescence. Partner psychological violence was stable from emerging adulthood to adulthood. Moreover, parental violence was also related to their own harsh parenting in adulthood. Conclusions: Findings suggest that children exposed to parental psychological violence during adolescence may have greater difficulty developing acceptable behaviors in their own romantic relationships over time, as well as parenting their own child in adulthood. Findings highlight the importance for clinicians and policymakers to develop and utilize effective educational and preventive interventions designed toward not only adolescent behaviors, but also that of the parent. Understanding how the family environment impacts current and long-term functioning is important in helping stop the cycle of violence across generations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  May 29, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000129   open full text
• Cyber Abuse Among Men Arrested for Domestic Violence: Cyber Monitoring Moderates the Relationship Between Alcohol Problems and Intimate Partner Violence.
  Brem, Meagan J.; Florimbio, Autumn Rae; Grigorian, Hannah; Wolford-Clevenger, Caitlin; Elmquist, JoAnna; Shorey, Ryan C.; Rothman, Emily F.; Temple, Jeff R.; Stuart, Gregory L.
  Psychology of Violence. May 25, 2017
  Objective: We provide the first investigation of the prevalence and frequency of cyber abuse among men arrested for domestic violence (DV). We also offer the first conceptualization of cyber monitoring, a facet of cyber abuse, within the impellance, instigation, and inhibition theory of intimate partner violence (IPV). That is, the risk of IPV perpetration may be higher for men with alcohol problems who also frequently access emotionally salient instigatory cues, namely, information gleaned from cyber monitoring. Thus, we hypothesized that alcohol problems would positively relate to IPV perpetration among men who engaged in high, but not low, levels of cyber monitoring. Method: Using a cross-sectional sample of 216 men arrested for DV and court-referred to batterer intervention programs (BIPs), we explored the prevalence and frequency of cyber abuse perpetration and victimization. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses tested the interaction between cyber monitoring and alcohol problems predicting IPV perpetration (psychological aggression and physical assault). Results: Eighty-one percent of men endorsed perpetrating at least 1 act of cyber abuse in the year prior to entering BIPs. Alcohol problems and both psychological and physical IPV perpetration positively related at high, but not low, levels of cyber monitoring. Conclusion: Clinicians should assess for cyber abuse and alcohol use among DV offenders. Amendments to legal statutes for DV offenders should consider incorporating common uses of technology into legal definitions of stalking and harassment. Social media campaigns and BIPs should increase individuals’ awareness of the criminal charges that may result from some forms of cyber abuse and monitoring. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  May 25, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000130   open full text
• Relationship Between Peer Victimization and Reactive–Proactive Aggression in School Children.
  Fung, Annis Lai Chu; Tsang, Eileen Yuk Ha; Zhou, Guangdong; Low, Andrew Yiu Tsang; Ho, Man Yee; Lam, Bess Yin Hung.
  Psychology of Violence. May 25, 2017
  Objective: Prior research has shown that reactive aggression is positively related to general peer victimization, whereas the findings for proactive aggression are mixed. This study aimed to investigate which specific forms of the peer-victimization model are related to reactive and proactive aggression. With the model, developed by Mynard and Joseph (2000), they identified 4 specific factors of peer victimization according to their nature, namely (a) Physical Victimization, (b) Verbal Victimization, (c) Social Manipulation, and (d) Attacks on Property. Method: We tested the hypotheses that the 4-factor peer-victimization model applies to Chinese youth and that reactive and proactive aggression have specific relationships with the 4 factors in the model. The Reactive–Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ; Raine et al., 2006) was administered to 8,604 Hong Kong Chinese schoolchildren, 8–16 years of age, selected from 10 primary and 10 secondary schools, to assess their Reactive and Proactive Aggression. Results: The results of confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the 4-factor peer-victimization model fit the sample well. After controlling for Reactive Aggression, Proactive Aggression was positively associated with Physical Victimization and Attacks on Property, but negatively associated with Verbal Victimization. After controlling for Proactive Aggression, Reactive Aggression was positively associated with Social Manipulation, Physical Victimization, and Verbal Victimization. Conclusion: The results suggest that the 4-factor peer-victimization model applies to Hong Kong Chinese schoolchildren and that there are significant relationships between peer victimization (total and 4 forms) and Reactive Aggression, and significant relationships exist between peer victimization (total and 3 out of 4 forms) and Proactive Aggression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  May 25, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000125   open full text
• Trauma Cognitions and Partner Aggression: Anger, Hostility, and Rumination as Intervening Mechanisms.
  Massa, Andrea A.; Eckhardt, Christopher I.; Sprunger, Joel G.; Parrott, Dominic J.; Subramani, Olivia S.
  Psychology of Violence. May 18, 2017
  Objective: Previous research has demonstrated a significant association between trauma and intimate partner aggression (IPA) perpetration. However, the precise mechanisms underlying this relationship have yet to be fully elucidated. In the present study, we examined the impact of several key factors implicated in Ehlers and Clark’s (2000) cognitive model of trauma (i.e., trauma cognitions, anger, hostility, and rumination) on IPA perpetration. Method: Participants in this study were 271 male and female heavy drinkers at high risk for IPA from the community who completed measures of dysfunctional posttraumatic cognitions, dispositional rumination, trait anger and hostility, and IPA perpetration. A moderated mediational model was tested to determine how these variables interact to predict IPA perpetration. Results: Results indicated that anger and hostility mediated the effect of negative cognitions about the world on IPA perpetration, with this indirect effect being stronger for individuals with higher levels of rumination. Conclusion: These findings suggest that cognitive and affective processes that may result from trauma exposure are associated with IPA and should be targeted in prevention and intervention programs for individuals at risk for perpetration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  May 18, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000127   open full text
• Fatherhood Status as a Predictor of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Treatment Engagement.
  Poole, Gina M.; Murphy, Christopher M.
  Psychology of Violence. May 18, 2017
  Objective: Research suggests that many partner abusive men continue in their parenting role within the context of intimate partner violence (IPV) and that some men report an awareness of the negative effects such conflict may have on their children. Further, qualitative research indicates that partner abusive men value their roles as fathers. Therefore, focusing on men’s fathering roles may facilitate increased motivation to change partner abusive behaviors. The current study examined whether fatherhood status served as a predictor of successful IPV treatment engagement. Method: The study was conducted with a sample of men (n = 210) seeking treatment at an abuser intervention program located in a suburb of Maryland. Results: Findings revealed that relative to nonfathers, fathers were more likely to attend their scheduled intake appointment following attendance to the initial orientation session, complete court-mandated treatment requirements, and self-report higher cognitive and behavioral processes of change toward the end of treatment. Likewise, late in treatment clinicians rated fathers somewhat higher on working alliance compared to nonfathers. Conclusions: The current study is the first we are aware of to provide quantitative evidence suggesting that fatherhood is predictive of treatment engagement in a predominantly court-mandated sample of men presenting to IPV treatment. These findings suggest that IPV programing discuss men’s roles as fathers as part of motivational enhancement at the outset of treatment and assess problems related to parenting and coparenting. Additionally, fathers may benefit from IPV programing which offers psychoeducation and parent skills training early in treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  May 18, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000124   open full text
• Does witnessing family violence influence sexual and reproductive health of adolescents and young adults? A systematic review.
  van Rosmalen-Nooijens, Karin A. W. L.; Lahaije, Fleur A. H.; Lo Fo Wong, Sylvie H.; Prins, Judith B.; Lagro-Janssen, Antoine L. M.
  Psychology of Violence. May 15, 2017
  Objective: Family Violence (FV) is a prevalent and important health problem worldwide. Witnessing FV has been linked to negative mental, behavioral, and physical outcomes, similar to being a direct victim of FV. This study aims to investigate the influence of witnessing FV on sexual and reproductive health of adolescents and young adults (AYAs). Method: A systematic review was performed, including original studies between 2000 and 2015, both quantitative and qualitative, found in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Outcomes were chosen according to the WHO indicators for sexual and reproductive health. Forty-five studies were selected. Sample sizes ranged from 20 to 12,308 participants. Critical appraisal using CASP was performed on all articles. Results: Because of a broad range of outcomes and subjects, no meta-analysis could be performed. Results were grouped into 5 outcome categories. Witnessing FV seems to have an influence on sexual risk-taking and sexual violence perpetration, comparable to the influence of direct abuse. Results on sexual victimization and adolescent pregnancy remain inconclusive. Pubertal timing appears not to be influenced by witnessing FV. Conclusions: Nine of 11 studies appraised as strong and moderate found a positive correlation between witnessing FV and the sexual or reproductive health of AYAs. Because of low study quality, more meticulous and longitudinal research is needed to adequately determine temporal sequence and causality of witnessing FV and sexual and reproductive health. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  May 15, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000113   open full text
• Polyvictimization Prevalence Rates for Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents: Breaking Down the Silos of Victimization Research.
  Sterzing, Paul R.; Gartner, Rachel E.; Goldbach, Jeremy T.; McGeough, Briana L.; Ratliff, G. Allen; Johnson, Kelly C.
  Psychology of Violence. May 11, 2017
  Objective: To identify lifetime polyvictimization rates by gender identity and sexual orientation, for a national sample of sexual and gender minority adolescents. Method: An anonymous, incentivized, online survey was completed by 1,177 sexual and gender minority adolescents who were currently enrolled in middle or high school (14 to 19-years-old). Results: Most of the sample experienced some form of lifetime physical assault (81.3%), bullying victimization (88.8%), sexual victimization (80.6%), child maltreatment (78.8%), property victimization (80.1%), and indirect or witnessed forms of victimization (75.0%). The overall rate of polyvictimization for the sample was 41.3%. Genderqueer assigned male at birth (65.4%), transgender female (63.2%), transgender male (57.4%), genderqueer assigned female at birth (55.0%), and cisgender female (39.3%) adolescents were significantly more likely to be lifetime polyvictimized than their cisgender male counterparts (31.1%). In addition, pansexual (56.8%), queer (52.0%), questioning (47.0%), and bisexual (45.8%) participants were significantly more likely to be lifetime polyvictimized than their gay-identified counterparts (32.7%). Conclusions: This is the first study to identify lifetime polyvictimization rates for sexual and gender minority adolescents. These findings call into question the practice of studying single forms of victimization for this population as if they occur in isolation to one another. Future research is needed to identify the shared risk and protective factors across victimization subtypes to inform prevention and intervention strategies for this vulnerable adolescent population. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  May 11, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000123   open full text
• The Role of Alcohol Problems in the Association Between Intimate Partner Abuse and Suicidality Among College Students.
  Sunami, Naoyuki; Hammersley, Jonathan J.; Keefe, Kristy M.
  Psychology of Violence. April 27, 2017
  Objective: Intimate partner abuse is a prevalent public health issue among college students and has been associated with suicidality and alcohol abuse. Evidence suggests that alcohol-related problems mediate the relationship between intimate partner abuse and suicidality, but it is limited to suicidal ideation among women. We aimed to expand the applicability of an existing mediation model by incorporating multiple indicators for intimate partner abuse and suicidality using a nationally representative sample of college students. Method: We used data from the National College Health Association Survey (N = 88,568). Key variables included involvement in intimate partner abuse (psychological, physical, and sexual), involvement in alcohol-related problems, and suicide-related behaviors (self-harm, ideation, and attempt). Results: We used structural equation modeling to test the mediation model. Results showed that alcohol-related problems partially mediated the association between abusive relationship involvement and suicidality. Furthermore, this association was equally present across men and women. Conclusions: Results demonstrate that psychological, physical, and sexual abuse involvement lead to self-harm, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts via problematic alcohol use. The partial mediation by alcohol-related problems suggests the potential benefit of treatment focusing on both problematic alcohol use and intimate partner abuse in preventing suicidality. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 27, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000122   open full text
• Investigating Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and Reproductive Coercion Victimization Among Young Pregnant and Parenting Couples: A Longitudinal Study.
  Willie, Tiara C.; Powell, Adeya; Callands, Tamora; Sipsma, Heather; Peasant, Courtney; Magriples, Urania; Alexander, Kamila; Kershaw, Trace.
  Psychology of Violence. April 27, 2017
  Objective: Intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and reproductive coercion place young women at risk for poor health. However, very few studies have examined the associations between IPV victimization and reproductive coercion among young couples or investigated these associations longitudinally. Method: Data were collected during 2007–2011 from 296 pregnant adolescent and young couples enrolled in a prospective study. Couples were recruited at obstetrics and gynecology, and ultrasound clinics. Results: Using the actor–partner interdependence model, results indicate significant actor and partner effects for IPV victimization and reproductive coercion victimization. The actor’s prebirth IPV victimization and the actor’s and partner’s reproductive coercion victimization in a past relationship related to reproductive coercion victimization in the current pregnancy. The partner’s reproductive coercion victimization in the current pregnancy related to psychological IPV victimization at the 6-month follow-up, but this relationship dissipated at the 12-month follow-up. Conclusions: A complex, co-occurring relationship exists between IPV victimization and reproductive coercion among young pregnant and parenting couples. Young couples transitioning from pregnancy to parenthood who experience reproductive coercion may be at risk for IPV. Pregnancy and parenting programs targeting young couples should be sensitive to the relationship between IPV and reproductive coercion victimization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 27, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000118   open full text
• Women’s experiences of domestic violence and mental health: Findings from a European empowerment project.
  Lloyd, Michele; Ramon, Shula; Vakalopoulou, Athina; Videmšek, Petra; Meffan, Caroline; Roszczynska-Michta, Joanna; Rollè, Luca.
  Psychology of Violence. April 24, 2017
  Objective: Research shows that women experiencing domestic violence and mental health problems often fall into gaps in services between support for domestic violence and support for mental health. This article reports on an action-research project adopting a strengths-based approach to recovery funded by the European Commission. Multimethod research was carried out in 5 European countries examining how interconnections of domestic violence and mental health impact the lives of women, how their lives can be improved by empowering strategies, and how service providers’ professional learning can be developed. Women survivors’ strengths and posttraumatic growth in the context of domestic violence remains a considerably underresearched area and the study provides new insights into adopting a strengths-based framework. Method: Free training programs were designed, delivered, and evaluated for 2 groups of participants (n = 136) pertaining to women service users and mental health service providers (men and women) working with abused women. Results: Program-evaluation data gained through surveys and focus groups showed that women participants reported growth in self-esteem and coping skills, whereas professionals felt better equipped to address the tandem issues of domestic violence and mental health. Conclusion: Findings extend current knowledge about the barriers and facilitators to empowerment and strengths-based recovery perspectives, professional learning, and offer a more nuanced understanding of women’s agential ability for posttraumatic growth. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 24, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000111   open full text
• Relationship Quality and Cognitive Reappraisal Moderate the Effects of Negative Urgency on Behavioral Inclinations Toward Aggression and Intimate Partner Violence.
  Blake, Khandis R.; Hopkins, Rachel E.; Sprunger, Joel G.; Eckhardt, Christopher I.; Denson, Thomas F.
  Psychology of Violence. April 20, 2017
  Objective: Intimate partner violence refers to verbal and physical aggression occurring between people who are, or were formerly, in an intimate relationship. Using the I3 model framework, we examined the interactive influences of negative urgency (i.e., the tendency to act rashly when in a bad mood), relationship quality, and cognitive reappraisal on hostile vocalizations in response to simulated romantic jealousy. Method: We instructed 135 healthy male or female undergraduates in romantic relationships to use cognitive reappraisal or not. Participants then listened and verbally responded to jealousy-provoking dating scenarios while vocalizations were recorded. Results: Results indicated that cognitive reappraisal attenuated the positive association between negative urgency and aggressive vocalizations—but only for couples in high-quality relationships. Cognitive reappraisal also attenuated the negative association between relationship quality and vocalized negative affect in response to simulated romantic jealousy. Individual differences in negative urgency positively predicted vocalized negative affect and vocalized anger. Conclusions: Cognitive reappraisal may attenuate the effect of aggressive impellors on intimate partner violence but only when relationship quality is high. When relationship quality is low, cognitive reappraisal may not be effective. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 20, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000121   open full text
• Using Conformity to Enhance Willingness to Intervene in Dating Violence: A Theory of Planned Behavior Analysis.
  Lemay Jr., Edward P.; O'Brien, Karen M.; Kearney, Monica S.; Sauber, Elizabeth W.; Venaglia, Rachel B.
  Psychology of Violence. April 20, 2017
  Objective: The purposes of this study were to investigate the influence of social norms on intentions to intervene in dating violence situations and, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, to examine whether these effects were mediated by attitudes, perceived behavioral control/self-efficacy, and subjective social norms. Method: College student participants were exposed to independent manipulations of descriptive norms (i.e., whether helping victims of dating violence is common) and injunctive norms (i.e., whether helping victims of dating violence is approved of) and then completed measures of attitudes toward helping, perceived behavioral control/self-efficacy regarding helping, subjective social norms regarding helping, and intentions to help. Results: Elevating descriptive norms caused greater helping intentions, and this effect was mediated by more positive attitudes, perceived behavioral control/efficacy, and subjective norms regarding helping. Conclusions: These results represent the first causal evidence suggesting that descriptive social norms motivate people to help victims of dating violence. Furthermore, results suggest that they do so by causing people to evaluate helping behaviors more positively, believe that similar others help, and feel more confident in their ability to help. These findings suggest that the Theory of Planned Behavior is a useful framework for understanding social influence in the context of dating violence, and that dating violence interventions may benefit from manipulating descriptive social norms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 20, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000114   open full text
• Young people’s online and face-to-face experiences of interpersonal violence and abuse and their subjective impact across five European countries.
  Barter, Christine; Stanley, Nicky; Wood, Marsha; Lanau, Alba; Aghtaie, Nadia; Larkins, Cath; Øverlien, Carolina.
  Psychology of Violence. April 13, 2017
  Objective: This paper explores the experiences and interconnection of young people’s online and offline (face-to-face) experiences of interpersonal violence and abuse (IPVA) victimization across 5 European countries (i.e., Bulgaria, Cyprus, England, Italy and Norway) and its subjective impact. Evidence on the association between online and offline forms of IPVA in young people’s relationships remains rare and even fewer studies address the subjective impact of these experiences. To our knowledge this is the first study to address these issues within a European context. Method: As part of a wider mixed-method study, a school-based survey was completed with 4,564 young people aged 14–17 across 5 European countries. Results: The findings showed that IPVA through new technologies, especially controlling behavior and surveillance, represented a common aspect of IPVA behaviors across the 5 country samples. There was a substantial intersection between online and offline forms of IPVA. In 3 of the 5 country samples, IPVA prevalence rates were not significantly associated with gender. However, for each form of IPVA studied, the reported subjective impact was gendered: Girls reported greater negative impact than boys. Conclusion: Our research showed that youth programs aimed at preventing or responding to adolescent IPVA need to pay careful attention to how new technologies are used within young people’s relationships and the ways in which these experiences may be differentiated by gender. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 13, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000096   open full text
• Is it coercive controlling violence? A cross-sectional domestic violence and abuse survey of men attending general practice in England.
  Hester, Marianne; Jones, Cassandra; Williamson, Emma; Fahmy, Eldin; Feder, Gene.
  Psychology of Violence. April 10, 2017
  Objective: Surveys that examine prevalence of domestic violence and abuse (DVA) without consideration of impact, severity or context have limitations. The article uses results from the first survey of a European clinical male population, the largest such study internationally, that measured a range of emotional, physical and sexual behaviors that could be construed as DVA, including experience and perpetration, and a range of impacts. The article asks to what extent the behavior reported by the men can be characterized as coercive controlling violence. Method: A survey was administered to male patients in 16 general practices (family medicine clinics) in England. Of 1,368 respondents who completed 4 screening questions regarding behavior consistent with DVA, 707 (52%) completed detailed questions on lifetime experience of possibly harmful emotional, physical and sexual behaviors, perpetration, and impacts, and if they had ever been in a domestically violent or abusive relationship. One-way analysis of variance was used to establish optimal thresholds across abuse and impact scales in order to ascertain severity of men’s reported experiences. Results: More than half (52.5%; 95% confidence interval: 48.7% to 55.9%) the men reported experiencing potentially harmful physical, emotional or sexual behavior from a partner, however only 4.4% of the men experienced coercive controlling violence and of those nearly half also reported perpetration against their partner. Conclusions: Although a large minority of men presenting to general practice experience or perpetrate DVA behavior in relationships, only a small minority experience coercive controlling violence and only 1 in 40 have experienced such violence as victims only. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 10, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000107   open full text
• Assessing Conflict Tactics Scale Validity by Examining Intimate Partner Violence Overreporting.
  Ackerman, Jeffrey.
  Psychology of Violence. April 10, 2017
  Objective: Although many scholars have questioned, on a logical basis, the validity of the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) to adequately measure intimate partner violence (IPV), relatively few critiques have used extensive empirical data gathered specifically for this purpose. This research analyzed these types of data to investigate an important mechanism of potential validity problems, IPV misreporting, by adding context questions to determine whether participants endorsed (as if actual IPV) accidents or other acts that neither party took seriously. The objective was to determine not only the extent to which this form of overreporting occurs but also how males and females differed in misreporting patterns. Method: Students from 1 U.S. and 1 Australian university (Total N = 1,758) completed a computer-administered survey. Multilevel logistic regression subsequently assessed the degree to which several factors predicted whether participants overreported CTS items. Results: Of the 1,174 event endorsements, 22.1% were classified as overreports. Whether males or females were more prone to overreporting, however, differed across event type, sample, age, relationship status, perpetration versus victimization, and current versus former partnerships. There were statistically significant interactions between gender and many of these factors. Among the most important of the findings was that males were more likely to overreport victimizations by female partners, whereas females were more likely to overreport perpetrations against male partners. Conclusions: The magnitude and intricate gendered nature of the overreporting problem imply that overreporting is a substantial problem, having the potential to negatively affect scale validity and thus the testing of partner-violence theories. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 10, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000112   open full text
• Alcohol, Drugs, and Violence: A Meta-Meta-Analysis.
  Duke, Aaron A.; Smith, Kathryn M. Z.; Oberleitner, Lindsay M. S.; Westphal, Alexander; McKee, Sherry A.
  Psychology of Violence. April 10, 2017
  Objective: The aim of this project was to provide a comprehensive overview and quantitative synthesis of the links between alcohol, drugs, and violence with established meta-meta-analysis methodology. Gender, psychotic illness (present vs. absent), role (perpetrator vs. victim), substance (alcohol, drugs, or both), operationalizations of violence (e.g., laboratory observed violence, community reported violence, homicide records, etc.), and study design (experimental, case-control, cross-sectional, and longitudinal) were evaluated as potential moderators. Method and Results: An extensive literature search resulted in 32 meta-analyses that met our inclusion criteria (i.e., quantitatively synthesized research assessing the link between alcohol or illicit drug use and violence perpetration/victimization) demonstrated a significant relationship between substance use and violence (grand weighted mean effect size of d = 0.45, 95% CI [0.36, 0.54], p < .001). Male gender, psychotic illness, experimental study design, and combined alcohol and illicit drug use increased the associations between substance use and violence. More important, the degree of association was similar across the types of violence assessed and roles (victim/perpetrator). Conclusions: The current study shows that with respect to alcohol, illicit drugs, and violence, the overall relationship is a medium effect size that is robust across different populations, substances, types of violence, and both perpetration and victimization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 10, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000106   open full text
• On defining violence, and why it matters.
  Hamby, Sherry.
  Psychology of Violence. April 06, 2017
  Accurate definitions of phenomena are essential to any scientific enterprise. A definition of violence should be fully capable of accounting for the exclusion of behaviors such as accidents and self-defense, and the inclusion of behaviors such as child abuse, sexual offenses, and manslaughter. Violence research has produced numerous and sometimes conflicting definitions of violence that can be organized into 4 general camps: the exemplars approach, the social psychology approach, the public health approach, and the animal research approach. Each approach has strengths and limitations, but to fully distinguish violence from other behaviors requires incorporating elements from all of them. A comprehensive definition of violence includes 4 essential elements: behavior that is (a) intentional, (b) unwanted, (c) nonessential, and (d) harmful. More sophisticated recognition of some elements is needed. For example, shortened telomeres—a known consequence of child abuse—is a far more serious harm than a scratch or bruise that will fully heal in a few days. Many problems in the field are due at least in part to insufficient attention to definitions, such as minimization of sexual violence, bullying, and other behaviors that do not map onto prototypical exemplars. More precise definitions of violence can improve surveillance, promote more accurate identification of causes and consequences, enhance evaluation of treatment outcomes, and guide development of prevention programs, among other benefits. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 06, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000117   open full text
• Women’s narratives of economic abuse and financial strategies in Britain and South Asia.
  Chowbey, Punita.
  Psychology of Violence. April 06, 2017
  Objectives: The objectives of the paper are to (a) extend current conceptualizations of economic abuse by incorporating diverse perspectives from South-Asian women in Britain, India, and Pakistan and (b) present a typology of financial strategies used by the women to deal with economic abuse. Method: Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, 84 married women with dependent children from South-Asian backgrounds were recruited through community networks in Britain (Pakistani Muslims n = 23; Gujarati Hindus n = 12), India (Gujarati Hindus n = 26), and Pakistan (Pakistani Muslims, n = 23) for in-depth interviews. Results: The women’s accounts included 4 kinds of economic abuse recognized in current literature, (a) preventing the acquisition of economic resources, (b) preventing the use of resources, (c) refusing to contribute, and (d) exploiting women’s resources and/or generating economic costs, as well as 2 unique abuses, (e) exploiting women’s customary marriage gifts including jahez/dahej, haq meher, bari, and streedhan, and (f) jeopardizing women’s long-term finances (e.g., through transnational investments). In addition, the results illuminate 4 financial strategies used by the women that have not previously been identified in the literature. These can be typified as (a) material, (b) confrontational, (c) mediational, and (d) developmental. Conclusions: This paper contributes new understandings on the globally pervasive but understudied phenomenon of economic abuse by including the perspectives of South-Asian women living in Britain and in South Asia. It challenges notions that South-Asian women are submissive or victims by highlighting the financial strategies they used in agentic resistance to economic abuse. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 06, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000110   open full text
• Correlates of Sex-Specific Young Adult College Student Dating Violence Typologies: A Latent Class Analysis Approach.
  Krishnakumar, Ambika; Conroy, Nicole; Narine, Lutchmie.
  Psychology of Violence. April 06, 2017
  Objective: To use latent class analysis (LCA) techniques to identify the sex-specific structure of college student dating violence typologies and to examine the shared and sex-specific background-situational correlates of college student dating violence typologies. Method: Sample consisted of 3,344 North American college students (2,323 females and 1,021 males) between 18 and 25 years in heterosexual dating relationships. Data were drawn from the International Dating Violence Study. Results: Five college student dating violence typologies defined by both perpetration and victimization behaviors were indicated for both sexes: no dating violence, physical assault-psychological aggression-sexual coercion, physical assault-psychological aggression, psychological aggression, and psychological aggression-sexual coercion. Findings indicated sex-specific variations in the college student dating violence profiles. Psychological aggression perpetration and victimization behaviors were characteristic of all dating violence typologies (except the no dating violence typology). Antisocial personality symptoms, violence approval, criminal history, and length of relationship were generally characteristic of males and females in different college student dating violence typologies. Gender hostility to men and women and stressful conditions were characteristic of females in different college student dating violence typologies. Childhood violent socialization and sexual abuse history were not characteristic of males and females in different college student dating violence typologies. Conclusions: Results point to the complexity of college student dating violence behavior presentations with shared and sex-specific background-situational correlates. Findings could inform the development of intervention programs designed to help young adult males and females in different dating violence typologies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 06, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000116   open full text
• Fear Processing Deficit in Violent Offenders: Intact Attentional Guidance but Impaired Explicit Categorization.
  Jusyte, Aiste; Stein, Timo; Schönenberg, Michael.
  Psychology of Violence. April 06, 2017
  Objective: Impaired recognition of fearful expressions has been documented across a wide range of antisocial populations but it remains unresolved whether this deficit reflects impaired attention to fearful expressions or is restricted to categorization. Here, we used visual search to investigate the relationship between impaired visual attention and emotion recognition in a group of violent offenders and healthy controls. Method: Task 1 measured attentional guidance by physical and affective saliency. Participants indicated the gender of a face identity singleton in an array of neutral distractor faces with a different identity. Singletons were paired with additional physical (color) or affective (happy, angry, fearful expression) task-irrelevant features. Task 2 used similar search displays but required participants to categorize the emotional expression of a happy, angry, or fearful target face in an array of neutral distractors. Results: In Task 1, both groups’ visual search was aided by both physical and affective features, providing no evidence for impaired incidental processing of affective or physical saliency in violent offenders. In Task 2, violent offenders showed impaired explicit categorization performance, particularly for fearful expressions. Visual search performance was not correlated with self-reported psychopathy. Conclusion: Impaired processing of affective stimuli in antisociality results from later processing stages related to explicit recognition and categorization. These deficits are not restricted to individuals with elevated psychopathic traits but are linked to antisociality more generally. These findings represent a first step in localizing the fear processing deficit along the processing hierarchy in violent offenders, demonstrating intact attentional guidance but impaired categorization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 06, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000109   open full text
• Predicting Maternal and Paternal Parent-Child Aggression Risk: Longitudinal Multimethod Investigation Using Social Information Processing Theory.
  Rodriguez, Christina M.; Silvia, Paul J.; Gaskin, Regan E.
  Psychology of Violence. March 30, 2017
  Objective: Given the costly outcomes associated with the physical abuse and harsh discipline of children, identifying pathways leading parents to engage in parent–child aggression (PCA) are critical to prevention and intervention efforts. One model that attempts to identify the processes involved in increasing parents’ risk is an adaptation of Social Information Processing (SIP) theory. The current study investigated whether elements of SIP theory assessed prenatally can predict later PCA risk in a diverse sample of mothers and fathers. Method: This evaluation controlled for parents’ current level of personal vulnerabilities (psychopathology, substance use, domestic violence) or resiliencies (social support, partner satisfaction, coping) to determine the predictive value of the SIP processes in particular. This study used a multimethod approach that included several analog tasks. Dyadic analyses were conducted to contrast 196 mothers and their partners who were enrolled prenatally and then reassessed when their infants were 6 months old. Results: Findings indicate that poor empathy assessed prenatally was associated with greater overreactivity and more negative attributions regarding children’s behavior, which in turn predicted later PCA risk. Moreover, attitudes approving the use of PCA predicted later PCA risk largely due to its connection with negative child attributions, less knowledge of nonphysical discipline alternatives, and higher compliance expectations. Conclusions: The results suggest that elements of the SIP theory can be identified prenatally to estimate later risk of PCA, with some differences in profiles between mothers and fathers. Future directions for evaluating the SIP model and its implications for prevention and intervention are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 30, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000115   open full text
• Motivational Interviewing for Victims of Armed Community Violence: A Nonexperimental Pilot Feasibility Study.
  Nanney, John T.; Conrad, Erich J.; Reuther, Erin T.; Wamser-Nanney, Rachel A.; McCloskey, Michael; Constans, Joseph I.
  Psychology of Violence. March 30, 2017
  Objective: The present study aimed to develop a novel, hospital-based motivational interviewing (MI) intervention for victims of armed community violence (MI-VoV) targeting patient-specific risk factors for future violence or violent victimization. Method: This uncontrolled pilot feasibility study examined a sample of patients (n = 71) hospitalized due to violent injury at a Level 1 Trauma Center in [Location Redacted for Masked Review] between January 2013 and May 2014. Patients first participated in a brief assessment to identify risk factors for violence/violent injury. A single MI session then targeted risk behaviors identified for each patient. Proximal outcomes, including motivation for change and behaviors to reduce risk, were examined at 2 weeks and 6–12 weeks postdischarge. Distal outcomes, including fighting, weapon-carrying, and gun-carrying, and other violence risk factors were examined at 6- to 12-week follow-up. Results: An estimated 95 patients were offered participation, 79 (83.2%) agreed to participate, and 73 (76.8%) completed the risk assessment. Of these, 71 had at least 1 violence/violent injury risk factor. Behaviors to reduce risk were significantly greater at 2-week and 6-to 12-week follow-up (p values < .05). Fighting, weapon-carrying, and gun-carrying were significantly reduced at 6- to 12-week follow-up (p values < .05). Conclusions: This intervention appears to be feasible to implement and acceptable to patients. A randomized controlled trial evaluating efficacy appears warranted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 30, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000103   open full text
• Caring Dads Safer Children: Families’ perspectives on an intervention for maltreating fathers.
  McConnell, Nicola; Barnard, Matt; Taylor, Julie.
  Psychology of Violence. March 23, 2017
  Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate whether Caring Dads Safer Children (CDSC), a program for domestically abusive fathers based on the Canadian Caring Dads model and delivered by a United Kingdom based children’s charity, improved outcomes for the fathers’ families and reduced the risk of further exposure to domestic abuse. Method: The evaluation of CDSC used a mixed method design that uniquely included partners’ and children’s reports on wellbeing and the fathers’ parenting and controlling behavior. There were 271 evaluation participants (66% fathers, 26% partners or ex-partners, and 8% children) provided pre- and post-program reports about the behavior of fathers attending at 5 centers in the United Kingdom. Results: Potential risks to children appeared to reduce postprogram, as fathers and partners reported fewer incidents of domestic abuse; fathers also reported that their interactions with their children improved and their experience of parenting stress, an indicator for potential abuse, reduced. Improvement in some fathers’ behavior appeared to contribute to increased feelings of safety and wellbeing within some families. Children and partners described positive changes in the fathers’ behavior; however, some fathers continued to pose a risk. Case notes indicated that the program influenced referrers’ decision making about children, either by providing evidence of the fathers’ learning or highlighting continuing concerns. Conclusions: CDSC demonstrates promising evidence that the program can contribute to reducing risks to children and families. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 23, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000105   open full text
• Reconciliation or Retaliation? An Integrative Model of Postrelationship In-Person and Cyber Unwanted Pursuit Perpetration Among Undergraduate Men and Women.
  Dardis, Christina M.; Gidycz, Christine A.
  Psychology of Violence. March 20, 2017
  Objective: Whereas several theories (i.e., attachment theory, coercive control theory, relational goal pursuit theory) have been proposed to predict perpetration of unwanted pursuit behavior (UPBs; i.e., unwanted or persistent pursuit) following romantic relationships, there have been few attempts at theory integration, and little focus on cyber UPB perpetration. The present study assessed an integrated model of in-person and cyber UPB perpetration proposed by Davis, Swan, and Gambone (2012) toward former partners among undergraduate men and women. Method: Undergraduates (N = 1,167, 67% women) who experienced a break-up in the past 3 years completed an online survey assessing in-person and cyber UPB perpetration toward a former partner. Results: The integrated model was supported, with 2 primary pathways to UPB perpetration: one based on relational goal pursuit theory (i.e., reconciliation motives), associated with minor UPBs, and another based on coercive control theory (i.e., retaliation motives), associated more strongly with severe in-person, severe cyber, and minor cyber UPBs. Tests of indirect effects revealed effects of self-control difficulties and possessiveness on UPB perpetration primarily along the coercive control pathway, with effects of anxious attachment primarily along the reconciliation pathway. There were few gender differences among the models; however, men’s IPV perpetration was more strongly associated with engagement in severe UPBs than was women’s IPV perpetration. Conclusions: Reconciliation or love-based motives may underlie minor UPBs, whereas retaliation/control motives may underlie severe UPBs. Possessiveness/jealousy and self-control difficulties should be assessed as potential predictor of UPBs, and IPV prevention programs should include UPBs in their curricula. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 20, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000102   open full text
• The relationship between family, parent, and child characteristics and intimate-partner violence (IPV) among Ukrainian mothers.
  Burlaka, Viktor; Grogan-Kaylor, Andrew; Savchuk, Olena; Graham-Bermann, Sandra A.
  Psychology of Violence. March 20, 2017
  Objective: To assess the prevalence of intimate-partner violence (IPV) in a sample of Ukrainian mothers of schoolchildren, and to examine the relationship between IPV and family, parent, and child characteristics using multilevel models. Method: Mothers of children ages 9–16 (N = 278, 93.5% Ukrainians) answered the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2; Straus, 1979; Straus, Hamby, Boney-McCoy, & Sugarman, 1996), an instrument that measures IPV. We also examined the relationship between IPV and maternal age, education, employment and marital status, family income, and rural or urban residence. Results: Most of the women (81%) reported psychological violence and 58% reported physical assault. On average, women reported 66 instances of IPV during the last year. Multilevel modeling revealed that lower maternal education, unemployment, not living with the husband or partner, and urban residency were associated with higher IPV victimization. Younger age and family income were not significantly related to IPV. Conclusion: We found IPV to be a significant social problem in the present sample of Ukrainian mothers of school-age children. Future policy and violence-prevention programming should focus on supporting academic and employment opportunities for women, particularly for those living in urban areas. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 20, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000085   open full text
• Coping with multiple adversities: Men who sought medico-legal care because of physical violence from a partner or ex-partner.
  De Puy, Jacqueline; Abt, Maryline; Romain-Glassey, Nathalie.
  Psychology of Violence. March 20, 2017
  Objectives: To describe male victims of physical violence by an intimate partner who consulted a medico-legal unit, and information available on their perpetrators; to characterize the violent events and their contexts. Little research exists on male victims of physical intimate partner violence seeking medical care. Method: Based on Heise’s ecological framework, mixed methods were used to analyze quantitative and qualitative data collected during 122 medico-legal consultations attended by 115 men who sustained physical violence by an intimate partner from 2006–2012. Results: Quantitative and quantitative data collected from male victims concurred in showing that many of such victims, as well as their partners, faced at the time of the assault multiple adversities and challenges at individual and relationship levels. Among male victims, 26% had no paid job. Among perpetrators, 34% were third-country nationals subject to restricted residence permits. Health issues, worries about money or work combined with complex and conflictive family situations were often in the background of violent events. In a few cases, however, male victims reported no other problems than their partner’s assault. Conclusions: Our findings point out gender-specific aspects of female-to-male physical partner violence. The most common feature is that violence was experienced as one among several adversities. Even though wounds sustained by male victims were not necessarily severe, their emotional suffering was frequent. When underage children were involved, their situation was particularly noteworthy. Interventions with male victims of intimate partner violence should include protection of minors as a priority and as an incentive for fathers to seek help. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 20, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000101   open full text
• A mixed-method evidence of intimate partner violence victimization among female students in Kosovo and its correlates.
  Kelmendi, Kaltrina; Baumgartner, František.
  Psychology of Violence. March 20, 2017
  Objective: This paper aims to examine Kosovo female student victimization (physical, psychological, and sexual) and its correlates using a socioecological framework while testing the applicability of Western models of violence against women in a previously unexplored context. Method: The sequential explanatory mixed-method design was used, a quantitative phase was used for collecting data on individual- and relationship-level correlates, and focus group discussions were used for gathering data on sociocultural correlates. Three hundred forty-five female students who had been in a heterosexual dating relationship in the past year completed the Conflict Tactic Scales-2 (CTS-2; Straus, Hamby, Boney-McCoy, & Sugarman, 1996) and Personal and Relationships Profile (PRP; Straus, Hamby, Boney-McCoy, & Sugarman, 2004). Women were then purposively recruited for the 2 focus group discussions to examine the sociocultural correlates. In total, 11 female students participated. Results: Findings of the quantitative phase of the study show that individual-level correlates (depressive symptoms and stressful conditions) and relationship-level correlates (conflict and jealousy) appear to be associated with female IPV victimization. Regarding sociocultural correlates, focus group discussions revealed that changes in values, gender roles, tolerant attitudes, and adherence to patriarchal norms were associated with female victimization while reflecting the consistency of findings obtained from quantitative data. Conclusion: The findings of this study provide evidence for the applicability of Western models of intimate partner violence to diverse cultural settings and implications for prevention interventions, suggesting that various previously established and the newest correlates should be tackled when designing prevention intervention, including individual, relationship, and sociocultural correlates. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 20, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000098   open full text
• Children and domestic violence: Emotional competencies in embodied and relational contexts.
  Callaghan, Jane Elizabeth Mary; Fellin, Lisa Chiara; Alexander, Joanne Helen; Mavrou, Stavroula; Papathanasiou, Maria.
  Psychology of Violence. March 20, 2017
  Objective: This article engages critically with the claim, present in most psychological literature, that children who live with domestic violence are likely to be emotionally incompetent and dysregulated. We explore how children who experience domestic violence make sense of and experience their emotions. Method: There were 107 young people aged 8–18 (44 boys, 63 girls) from Greece, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom who participated in semistructured and photo elicitation based interviews. These interviews were analyzed using Interpretive Interactionism. Results: We identified 3 common themes relevant to children’s experience of emotions. In the theme Constrained Articulation—Expressing Emotions we explore how children use complex and contextually specific verbal and nonverbal ways to express embodied emotionality. The theme Emotion, Embodiment and Relationality considers how children’s emotionality is not experienced in social isolation, but in relationship with others. The third theme Catharsis, Comfort and Self-Soothing explores children’s strategies for coping with difficult emotions. Conclusions: As reflexive and agentic beings, children experience, manage, and express their emotional lives as relational and contextually located. We challenge dominant explanatory models that conceptualize children who live with domestic violence as emotionally incompetent and dysregulated. We argue that these models underestimate the complexity of children’s emotional responses by decontextualizing and individualizing them as a set of abstract social skills. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 20, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000108   open full text
• Evaluation of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Domestic Violence Offenders.
  Zarling, Amie; Bannon, Sarah; Berta, Meg.
  Psychology of Violence. March 20, 2017
  Objective: There are currently few empirically supported batterer intervention programs (BIPs) for perpetrators of domestic violence. In practice, a combination of psychoeducation on power and control dynamics (i.e., Duluth Model) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques are widely used in BIPs but produce limited effects on violent recidivism. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the impact of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based program (Achieving Change Through Values-Based Behavior [ACTV]; Lawrence, Langer Zarling, & Orengo-Aguayo, 2014) on reducing new criminal charges 1 year postintervention compared with the traditional treatment (a combination of the Duluth Model and CBT). Method: Administrative data were collected from a sample of 3,474 men who were arrested for domestic assault and court-mandated to a BIP (nonrandomized either ACTV or Duluth/CBT) from 2011 to 2013. Incidence and frequency of new criminal charges were examined during the intervention time period as well as 12 months postintervention time period, and analyses were completed for the entire intent-to-treat sample as well as treatment completers only. Results: Compared with Duluth/CBT participants, significantly fewer ACTV participants acquired any new charges, domestic assault charges, or violent charges. ACTV participants also acquired significantly fewer charges on average in the 1 year after treatment than Duluth/CBT participants. This pattern of results emerged for both treatment completers and noncompleters. ACTV had a significantly higher dropout rate. Conclusions: This investigation provides preliminary evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of an ACT-based group for men who have been arrested for domestic assault. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 20, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000097   open full text
• The bystander approach to violence prevention: Considerations for implementation in Europe.
  Fenton, Rachel A.; Mott, Helen L.
  Psychology of Violence. March 20, 2017
  Objective: In recent years there has been a growing awareness of the prevalence of sexual violence in U.K. university student populations, yet prevention efforts are in their infancy. Evidence from the United States shows that empowering bystanders to intervene to prevent violence rather than focusing on perpetrators or victims is a promising strategy particularly suited to university settings. Public Health England commissioned a bystander program, The Intervention Initiative, for U.K. universities. This paper discusses the theoretical underpinnings of the bystander approach and the challenges for practical implementation in Europe. Method: We review findings from research relating to bystander theories, social norms theory, and effective prevention programming that inform the development of maximally effective bystander programs. Results: Bystander programs are complex, multifaceted interventions based on taking participants through the different stages required for an individual to move from inaction to action as described by Latané and Darley, 1969, 1970 in their organizing framework for bystander intervention and incorporating a social norms element. Programs that adhere to the principles for effective prevention as set out by Nation et al. (2003) are most likely to be effective. We demonstrate how these criteria informed the cultural specificity of The Intervention Initiative to U.K. university settings and the challenges in adapting the approach for European settings. Conclusion: More research is needed to develop and test bystander programs in different European countries to build an evidence base for effective prevention programming. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 20, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000104   open full text
• Intimate partner homicide in Norway 1990–2012: Identifying risk factors through structured risk assessment, court documents, and interviews with bereaved.
  Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Friestad, Christine; Bjørkly, Stål.
  Psychology of Violence. March 20, 2017
  Objective: To explore possible risk factors for intimate partner homicide by combining structured risk assessment based on information available in court documents and individual risk assessment provided through interviews with the bereaved. Method: The aim of this study was to scrutinize intimate partner homicide (IPH) situations and interactions within a retrospective, mixed methods design. All IPHs in Norway that had received a final legal judgment from 1990 to 2012 (N = 177) were included. Quantitative data was extracted through structured investigation of the court documents. Risk factors were identified from three validated risk assessment instruments. Qualitative data were retrieved from interviews with a sample of bereaved (n = 12). Results: The IPH distribution was biased toward low socioeconomic status. Previous intimate partner violence (IPV) was identified in 7 out of 10 IPH incidents. Observed risk by the bereaved was infrequently communicated to health care, police, or support services. Individuals who did communicate risk found that professionals underestimated the reported risk and did not act on their warnings. Conclusions: The majority of IPHs did not occur without warning signs. To prevent IPH, structured risk assessments and knowledge of family and friends’ perceptions of risk is essential. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 20, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000100   open full text
• Caregiver Victimization in Community Adolescents: Protective Factors Related to Resilience.
  Pérez-González, Alba; Pereda, Noemí; Guilera, Georgina; Abad, Judit; Finkelhor, David.
  Psychology of Violence. March 16, 2017
  Objective: To determine the specific protective factors that seem to be related to psychological adjustment in child and youth victims of direct and indirect forms of caregiver victimization. Method: A total of 1,105 children and youth (590 male and 515 female) from northeastern Spain and aged between 12 and 17 years were assessed regarding their experiences of caregiver victimization, symptoms of psychopathology, and protective factors. Results: Caregiver victimization during lifetime was reported by 26.8% of the overall sample. The results showed that any form of caregiver victimization was related to higher levels of emotional and behavioral problems. Some aspects of the Self domain (e.g., Social Skills or low Negative Cognition) were related to lower levels of internalizing problems. In the case of externalizing problems, several factors from different domains (i.e., Self, Family, and School) were relevant, and a significant interaction between caregiver victimization and Connectedness to School was observed. Conclusions: The results show that protective factors play a role in the explanation of emotional and behavioral problems. The findings reveal some of the protective factors that should be regarded as key intervention targets in children and youth with a history of caregiver victimization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 16, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000091   open full text
• The Role of Marital Adjustment in Suicidal Ideation Among Former Prisoners of War and Their Wives: A Longitudinal Dyadic Study.
  Zerach, Gadi; Levi-Belz, Yossi; Michelson, Menucha; Solomon, Zahava.
  Psychology of Violence. March 13, 2017
  Objective: Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are implicated in high suicidality and low levels of marital quality among traumatized veterans and their wives. However, the role of marital quality in suicidal ideation (SI) of war veterans and their spouses remains relatively unexplored. The current study examined the longitudinal associations between marital adjustment and SI among ex-prisoners of war (ex-POWs) and their wives. Method: Through opportunistic data collection, a sample of 233 Israeli couples (142 ex-POW couples and a comparison group of 91 veteran couples) were assessed at 2 time points: Time 1 (T1; 2003) and Time 2 (T2; 2008), 30 and 35 years after the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Participants completed self-report measures of PTSS, depression, dyadic adjustment, and SI. Results: Among both husbands and wives, higher levels of marital adjustment were related to lower levels of SI. Surprisingly, an actor-partner interdependence modeling analysis revealed that for both ex-POW and control groups, husband’s marital adjustment moderated the contribution of his PTSS to his SI, while controlling for prior SI in T1. Moreover, only for control couples did the husbands’ marital adjustment moderate the wives’ PTSS contribution to the husbands’ SI. Conclusions: Ex-POWs’ and their wives’ marital adjustment are longitudinally related to their SI. Improving couples’ marital adjustment may buffer the detrimental implications that both partners’ PTSS bears for veterans’ SI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 13, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000093   open full text
• Intimate partner violence against women in the European Union: The influence of male partners’ traditional gender roles and general violence.
  Herrero, Juan; Torres, Andrea; Rodríguez, Francisco J.; Juarros-Basterretxea, Joel.
  Psychology of Violence. March 13, 2017
  Objective: The influence of partners’ traditional gender role and partners’ level of general violence on intimate partner violence (IPV) against women has been studied separately most likely because they represent key aspects of apparently contrasting theoretical views. The main goal of the present study was to investigate the influence of both partners’ gender role and partners’ level of general violence on IPV against women. Method: Using data from 20,663 heterosexual women living with their partners from a probabilistic sample of 18- to 74-year-old women in the European Union, we investigated the association among physical and psychological IPV against women, partners’ traditional roles, and partners’ level of general violence. Results: The multilevel regression results indicated that, even after controlling for a number of interviewer, respondent, partner, and country-level characteristics, partners’ traditional gender role and partners’ level of general violence (main effects) were predictive of higher rates of physical and psychological IPV against women. Moreover, the greatest levels of IPV were observed in women who described their partners as both traditional and generally violent (interaction effect). Conclusions: The influence of partners’ traditional gender role and partners’ level of general violence on IPV against women has rarely been studied together most likely due to the apparently conflicting underlying theoretical assumptions. Our study provides empirical support for both views and suggests that intervention efforts focusing on both gender-based and non–gender-based violence are legitimate strategies for reducing the rates of IPV against women in society. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 13, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000099   open full text
• Measuring Acquired Capability for Suicide Within an Ideation-to-Action Framework.
  Burke, Taylor A.; Ammerman, Brooke A.; Knorr, Anne C.; Alloy, Lauren B.; McCloskey, Michael S.
  Psychology of Violence. March 02, 2017
  Objective: Despite the large literature on risk factors for suicide-related outcomes, few studies have examined risk for acting on suicidal thoughts among suicide ideators. The current study aimed to fill this gap by examining the role of acquired capability, as well as its hypothesized facilitator, painful and provocative events (PPEs), as motivators for behavior among individuals along the suicide continuum. Method: Undergraduates reporting suicidal ideation, suicide plans, suicide attempts without intent to die, or suicide attempts with intent to die (N = 546) completed a measure of acquired capability for suicide, as well as assessments of exposure to PPEs. Results: Our findings demonstrated that acquired capability for suicide did not distinguish between individuals falling along the ideation-to-action spectrum. Among the several PPEs assessed, the frequency of nonsuicidal self-injury, and the presence of childhood emotional abuse, physical abuse, and physical neglect each significantly differentiated between groups, with individuals having a history of a suicide attempt with the intent to die reporting the highest levels. Conclusions: These findings implicate the PPEs that may be most important to assess in determining suicide risk, and, further, call into question the utility of acquired capability in differentiating between individuals along the suicide continuum. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 02, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000090   open full text
• Examining Situations Involving Intimate Partner Aggression: A Dyadic Study of Agreement on Behaviors, Attributions, and Emotional Effects.
  Neal, Angela M.; Edwards, Katie M.
  Psychology of Violence. February 27, 2017
  Objective: The current study examines the extent to which members of a couple agree on the presence of intimate partner aggression (IPA) as well as their reasons for why the IPA happened and the emotional effects of the IPA, specific to an IPA incident. Method: Romantic couples (N = 199) were asked to independently discuss the same psychological, physical, and sexual IPA incidents in their relationship. Those indicating the same instances of IPA then reported on the specific behaviors occurring within the incident (e.g., slapping, insulting, forced sex), attributions for the IPA (e.g., drugs/alcohol, jealousy), and the emotional effects of the IPA (e.g., worthless, unhappy). Results: There was moderate agreement on whether or not aggression even happened in an instance of IPA, as well as agreement on the general type of aggression that occurred. There was little agreement on the emotional effects of IPA and attributions for the IPA, with the exception of drugs and alcohol precipitating the IPA incident. Conclusions: Future research should strive to better understand why discrepancies in partner reports of IPA exist and consider the implications of these discrepancies on our understanding of this phenomenon. IPA prevention programming may be enhanced by acknowledging that partners often have different perspectives on aggressive incidents, and clinical interventions may be enhanced by helping both members of a dyad have a better understanding of each other’s perspectives on the IPA. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  February 27, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000092   open full text
• Trajectories of Bully Perpetration Across Early Adolescence: Static Risk Factors, Dynamic Covariates, and Longitudinal Outcomes.
  Espelage, Dorothy L.; Van Ryzin, Mark J.; Holt, Melissa K.
  Psychology of Violence. February 23, 2017
  Objective: Longitudinal trajectories of bully perpetration were examined across 6 waves of data among adolescents from middle to high school, predictors of these trajectory membership, and outcomes associated with trajectories at Wave 6. Method: Participants completed self-report surveys (6th through 10th) grade. Bully perpetration was input to the trajectory analyses. Static predictors of trajectory membership included gender, positive and negative family relations, and exposure to an intervention. Dynamic covariates of bully trajectories included empathy, impulsivity, depression, and victimization. High school outcomes included delinquency, affiliation with deviant peers, and school belonging. Results: Group-based semiparametric mixture modeling yielded 5 distinct trajectories of bullying perpetration emerged: (a) Low (37.8% of the sample); (b) Moderate Flat (51.3% of the sample); (c) High Declining (3.4%); (d) Middle School Peak (4.2%); and (e) Moderate Escalating (3.4%). Early family relations and intervention status were found to be predictors of trajectory membership. Peer victimization, impulsivity, and depression as dynamic covariates predicted positive deviations from the bullying perpetration trajectories (i.e., increases in bullying), while empathy predicted negative deviations. Trajectory membership was differentially predictive of antisocial behavior, peer affiliation, and school belonging outcomes in the 10th grade. Findings suggest middle school students exposed to a social emotional learning program were less likely to belong to the more serious trajectories, bullying perpetration levels were generally highest during the middle school period, and some bullying perpetration continued into high school. Conclusion: Interventions for both middle and high school need to focus on individual and contextual factors identified in this study. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  February 23, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000095   open full text
• LGBQ Identity Integration and the Association With Justification of Violence.
  Quirk, Kelley; Newcomb, Michael E.; Mustanski, Brian.
  Psychology of Violence. February 23, 2017
  Objectives: The current study examined how lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer (LGBQ) identity integration is associated with beliefs about the justification of violence, a known predictor of perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV). Relationship communication skills were examined as a moderator of this relationship. Method: 276 LGBQ youth completed measures hypothesized to contribute to an overall sense of identity—sense of belonging, connectedness to the LGBQ community, internalized homophobia, and coming-out self-efficacy. Couple communication was also assessed via self-report. Results: Analyses revealed that all 4 LGBQ variables could be combined into a single latent factor representing integrated identity. Results were significant for the moderation test, in that higher ratings of communication moderated the strength of the relationship between the latent LGBQ identity variable and justification of violence. Conclusions: This study highlights support for the unidimensionality of LGBQ identity, and that the quality of one’s integrated identity and relationship communication may be important factors in justification of violence and subsequent experiences of IPV. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  February 23, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000089   open full text
• Placing Coercive Control at the Center: What Are the Processes of Coercive Control and What Makes Control Coercive?
  Crossman, Kimberly A.; Hardesty, Jennifer L.
  Psychology of Violence. February 06, 2017
  Objective: Coercive control has been studied in conjunction with physical violence, leaving unclear how coercive control itself operates and is abusive. Further, how the processes of control that are considered coercive differ from control dynamics that are part of all relationships remains uncertain. Thus, we used grounded theory methods to develop a theoretical explanation of the processes of control and what makes control coercive. Method: In-depth interviews with 22 divorced women were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding and constant comparative methods. Power and gender theories offered sensitizing frameworks. Results: “Felt or experienced constraint” was central to the process of control, but 2 distinct patterns produced this phenomenon. Constraint through commitment involved a process of being constrained by oneself or one’s partner to uphold cultural conventions of heterosexual marriage and parenting. Constraint through force involved a process of being controlled wholly in a targeted and systematic way by one’s partner. Conclusions: Findings contribute to understanding the processes of control, whether coercive or not or violent or not, and assist practitioners and policymakers in responding effectively. Findings also inform quantitative measurement of control and reaffirm feminist scholars’ call to consider how and why gender matters in all forms of abuse. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  February 06, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000094   open full text
• Expanding evidence-based practice models for domestic violence initiatives: A community-centered approach.
  Serrata, Josephine V.; Macias, R. Lilliane; Rosales, Alvina; Hernandez-Martinez, Martha; Rodriguez, Rebecca; Perilla, Julia L.
  Psychology of Violence. January 12, 2017
  Objective: Community-based domestic violence (DV) organizations require an adapted model for demonstrating how their strategies fit evidence-based practice (EBP). In response, a national DV resource center Casa de Esperanza adapted an EBP model called the community-centered evidence-based practice (CCEBP) approach. CCEBP offers an expanded definition of EBP that prioritizes culturally relevant evidence grounded in the voices of community members. The authors use Te Invito (I Invite You), a DV prevention initiative, as an illustrative example of how CCEBP can successfully guide practitioners to collect and apply community-related evidence in their work. Key points: The CCEBP approach addresses the lack of a practice model consistent with the work of cultural-specific, community-based practitioners. By expanding traditional models of EBP to prioritize community expertise, it provides an alternative understanding of what is considered EBP in the field of DV. Conclusions: The CCEBP approach offers an enhanced EBP model for community-based organizations working alongside Latina/o and other cultural-specific communities. The focus on community within the CCEBP approach can protect against the indiscriminate application of practice ill-fitting to the needs of Latino/a families and other diverse groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 12, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000051   open full text
• Antisocial Traits, Distress Tolerance, and Alcohol Problems as Predictors of Intimate Partner Violence in Men Arrested for Domestic Violence.
  Brem, Meagan J.; Florimbio, Autumn Rae; Elmquist, JoAnna; Shorey, Ryan C.; Stuart, Gregory L.
  Psychology of Violence. January 12, 2017
  Objective: Men with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) traits are at an increased risk for consuming alcohol and perpetrating intimate partner violence (IPV). However, previous research has neglected malleable mechanisms potentially responsible for the link between ASPD traits, alcohol problems, and IPV perpetration. Efforts to improve the efficacy of batterer intervention programs (BIPs) would benefit from exploration of such malleable mechanisms. The present study is the 1st to examine distress tolerance as 1 such mechanism linking men’s ASPD traits to their alcohol problems and IPV perpetration. Method: Using a cross-sectional sample of 331 men arrested for domestic violence and court-referred to BIPs, the present study used structural equation modeling to examine pathways from men’s ASPD traits to IPV perpetration directly and indirectly through distress tolerance and alcohol problems. Results: Results supported a 2-chain partial mediational model. ASPD traits were related to psychological aggression perpetration directly and indirectly via distress tolerance and alcohol problems. A 2nd pathway emerged by which ASPD traits related to higher levels of alcohol problems, which related to psychological aggression perpetration. Controlling for psychological aggression perpetration, neither distress tolerance nor alcohol problems explained the relation between ASPD traits and physical assault perpetration. Conclusion: These results support and extend existing conceptual models of IPV perpetration. Findings suggest intervention efforts for IPV should target both distress tolerance and alcohol problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 12, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000088   open full text
• A Longitudinal Examination of Homophobic Name-Calling in Middle School: Bullying, Traditional Masculinity, and Sexual Harassment as Predictors.
  Espelage, Dorothy L.; Hong, Jun Sung; Merrin, Gabriel J.; Davis, Jordan P.; Rose, Chad A.; Little, Todd D.
  Psychology of Violence. January 02, 2017
  Objective: Being a target of homophobic name-calling is associated with adverse outcomes for youth. Few studies have examined homophobic name-calling longitudinally among middle school youth. To address this gap, this longitudinal study examined predictors of changes in homophobic name-calling including bullying, sexual harassment, dismissiveness of sexual harassment, and traditional masculinity over the course of 2 years of middle school. Method: Participants included 1,655 students in 5th–8th grade from 4 public middle schools in the Midwest. The survey assessed demographic characteristics, homophobic name-calling, bullying, sexual harassment, and traditional masculinity across 4 waves of 2 years of data collection. Results: Homophobic name-calling increased over time; however, the rate of acceleration slowed. Higher within-person and between-person bullying was associated with increases in homophobic name-calling, but increases in dismissiveness of sexual harassment and traditional masculinity were not associated with increases in homophobic name-calling. Increases in within-person sexual harassment were associated with contemporaneous increases in homophobic name-calling. Relations between bullying and homophobic name-calling were especially pronounced for those at high levels of dismissiveness of sexual harassment for both within- and between-person models. Conclusion: To effectively address school bullying among early adolescents, it is imperative that antibullying policies and prevention programs work to address homophobic name-calling and dismissiveness of sexual harassment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 02, 2017   doi: 10.1037/vio0000083   open full text
• Family adversity’s role in the onset and termination of childhood sibling victimization.
  Tucker, Corinna Jenkins; Finkelhor, David; Turner, Heather.
  Psychology of Violence. December 12, 2016
  Objective: To understand the role of family adversity in the onset and desistance of sibling victimization, we examined school-age children’s sibling victimization patterns using 2 waves of longitudinal data from a nationally representative sample. Method: Parents of children aged 5–9 and children aged 10–12 years old (N = 945, Mage = 8.5 years, 52% male) participated in 2 waves of telephone interviews, 2 years apart. Results: We compared family adversity for children whose victimization by a sibling emerges at Wave 2 (the New group) versus those children who do not experience any sibling victimization at either Wave (the None group). Also, we compared children who continue to be victimized (the Persist group) versus those children for whom victimization stops (the Desist group). An increase in family adversity was associated with initiation of sibling victimization, and termination was related to a decline in family adversity. These patterns applied more to girls than boys. Conclusions: Family adversity was associated with the onset and termination of sibling victimization. In adverse family conditions, girls may be particularly vulnerable to sibling victimization. For families dealing with loss, illness and other transitions, parents and children may need help preventing and interrupting sibling victimization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  December 12, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000087   open full text
• Cross-informant agreement on mental health outcomes in children with maltreatment histories: A systematic review.
  Romano, Elisa; Weegar, Kelly; Babchishin, Lyzon; Saini, Michael.
  Psychology of Violence. December 08, 2016
  Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis examined cross-informant agreement concerning mental health outcomes for maltreated children. This study provides important information to individuals working with maltreated children (e.g., clinicians, child welfare practitioners) who must make critical decisions related to safety, mental health, and permanency. Method: We retrieved 29 studies that collected mental health data for maltreated children using standardized instruments. We were able to examine 4 informant pairs and 7 mental health outcomes. Results: Agreement across children’s mental health outcomes was highest for child–caregiver pairs (small to large, significant effect sizes), followed by child–teacher and caregiver–teacher (small to medium, significant effect sizes) and then caregiver–caregiver (small, nonsignificant effect sizes) pairs. Agreement generally was highest for overt behaviors. Conclusions: It is important to include children as informants, gather teacher and caregiver data when assessing child internalizing difficulties, and examine specific maltreatment outcomes (e.g., traumatic stress). Clinically, it is critical to understand why different informants perceive a child’s functioning in different ways for purposes of prognosis and treatment planning for the child and his or her family. It is also critical to triangulate data sources when assessing for maltreatment impact and to consider data points that both converge and diverge when making appropriate safety and treatment plans. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  December 08, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000086   open full text
• Applying the social-ecological framework to understand the associations of bullying perpetration among high school students: A multilevel analysis.
  Merrin, Gabriel J.; Espelage, Dorothy L.; Hong, Jun Sung.
  Psychology of Violence. December 08, 2016
  Objective: Drawing from the social-ecological framework, this multilevel study examines individual, family, and school correlates of bullying perpetration among a sample of high school-age students. Cross-level interactions address contextual influences across individuals and schools. Method: The analytic dataset contains anonymous responses (collected in 2012) of the Dane County Youth Survey (DCYS) from 12,185 high school students in Grades 9 through 12 (49.8% females). The survey assessed demographic characteristics, family relations, peer relations, substance use, bullying, victimization, and school connectedness. Results: Multilevel modeling was used to examine between-person and between-school differences in individual rates of bullying perpetration. Females reported less engagement in bullying perpetration than did males. Furthermore, alcohol and marijuana use was related to higher rates of bullying perpetration. In addition, between-person family dysfunction and school risk were both associated with higher rates of bullying perpetration. Similarly, between-person rates of school connectedness were associated with less bullying perpetration. At the school level, average between-school differences in family dysfunction was related to greater bullying perpetration. A cross-level interaction was also significant. Compared with individuals attending schools with higher average rates of family dysfunction, schools with lower rates of family dysfunction displayed lower levels of bullying perpetration. Conclusion: Prevention programs that consider various dimensions of the social-ecological perspective and, more specifically, family and school factors have potential to reduce bullying. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  December 08, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000084   open full text
• Spank, Slap, or Hit? How Labels Alter Perceptions of Child Discipline.
  Brown, Alan S.; Holden, George W.; Ashraf, Rose.
  Psychology of Violence. November 14, 2016
  Objective: Words shape our perceptions of behavior, and we applied this maxim to evaluating how different verbs can alter the perception of corporal acts used to discipline children. Specifically, we compared spank, swat, slap, hit, and beat. We hypothesized that (a) parents and nonparents would rate these terms differently, (b) corporal terms would be differentiated in a consistent manner across 3 behavior rating scales (common, acceptable, effective), and (c) acceptable and effective ratings would align more closely to each other than either would to common ratings. Method: In an online survey, participants read 8 vignettes with words used to label parental reactions to child misbehaviors and rated each vignette on how common, acceptable, and effective the response was. Results: Parents rated corporal actions as more common than did nonparents, but the samples were comparable on acceptable and effective ratings. Rank order of corporal term ratings was consistent across rating scales, with spank rated as the most common, acceptable, and effective response, followed (in order) by swat, hit, slap, and beat. Finally, evaluations of corporal terms on the acceptability and effectiveness of parental responses were more closely aligned with each other than either was to evaluations of how common the responses are. Conclusion: The specific verbs used to describe acts of physical discipline can alter interpretations of the associated behavior, and potentially serve to normalize, conceal, or justify violent actions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  November 14, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000080   open full text
• How many slaps is equivalent to one punch? New approaches to assessing the relative severity of violent acts.
  Osman, Magda; Pupic, Dzenana; Baigent, Nicholas.
  Psychology of Violence. November 10, 2016
  Objective: The study assesses the extent to which responses to different judgment tasks align consistently to reveal underlying rank orderings of violent acts by their level of severity. Method: There were 4 studies (total N = 540, adult sample). Participants were presented with a variety of tasks: ranking task: report your ranking of violent acts from least to most violent; trade-off task: report how many of less violent acts is equivalent to 1 more violent act?; compensation task: report the financial compensation needed that would exactly compensate you for being a victim of a violent act. For these tasks they were required to consider 3 violent acts (Study 1), and 8 violent acts (Studies 2, 3, and 4). Results: The similarity in the rank ordering of violent acts by severity in each study was relatively high in each study (77–92%). In Study 4 the average compensation (USD) request was for a spit ($8,929), slap ($9,876), kick ($10,499), punch ($10,354), head-butt ($19,636), threaten with a knife ($11,631), choke ($118,119), and stab ($125,596). A meta-analysis conducted across studies (2–4) also revealed that there was general agreement in the way in which violent acts were ordered by severity (p < .0005); from least to most severe: spit, slap, kick, punch, head-butt, threaten with a knife, choke, and stab. Conclusion: People generally agree on their ranking of violent acts according to their severity, and from this it is possible to develop ranking systems that are sensitive to people’s judgments of the level of violence of various acts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  November 10, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000079   open full text
• Men’s Responses to Women’s Sexual Refusals: Development and Construct Validity of a Virtual Dating Simulation of Sexual Aggression.
  Abbey, Antonia; Pegram, Sheri E.; Woerner, Jacqueline; Wegner, Rhiana.
  Psychology of Violence. November 10, 2016
  Objective: To provide evidence regarding the construct validity of a sexual aggression proxy in which male participants go on multiple virtual dates with a woman. A unique strength of this proxy is participants’ opportunity to make choices throughout the simulation about how they interact with their virtual date. These decisions determine their exposure to the female agent’s sexual refusals. Method: Piloting included focus groups (n = 82), surveys (n = 95), and cognitive interviews (n = 32). To establish construct validity, 87 male participants completed 2 separate sessions: a) an online survey with measures of discriminant and convergent validity; and b) a lab session in which they went on multiple dates that included nonsexual options, sexual options that the female agent accepted, and sexual options she refused. Sexual aggression was operationalized as the total number of sexual refusals that participants’ received. Results: There was strong correlational evidence for discriminant and convergent validity. As hypothesized, there were some differences in the risk factors associated with refusals received on casual as compared to steady dates. Additionally, the number of refusals received was associated with the types of thoughts and actions commonly reported by perpetrators. Conclusions: This simulation provides a new approach for examining sexual aggression in controlled experiments that vary factors within the simulation such as the man’s and woman’s intoxication and past sexual history. Because what happens is based on each individual’s responses, it could be adapted for use in prevention and treatment programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  November 10, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000078   open full text
• Where Does Cyberbullying Fit? A Comparison of Competing Models of Adolescent Aggression.
  Mehari, Krista R.; Farrell, Albert D.
  Psychology of Violence. November 10, 2016
  Objective: This study examined how cyberbullying fits into a framework of adolescent aggression. It was hypothesized that a dimensional model that considered both form (overt or relational) and media (in-person or electronic) of aggression would best fit the data. Method: Participants were 677 adolescents (ages 11 to 15) from 3 public schools. The sample was 92% Black or African American. Participants completed a self-report measure that assessed their frequency of physical, verbal, and relational aggression and cyberbullying. Results: Contrary to hypothesis, confirmatory factor analyses provided the clearest support for a 3-factor model that conceptualized cyberbullying as a counterpart to overt and relational aggression. A latent class analysis revealed a moderate aggression class and a low aggression class, with neither group distinguishable by cyberbullying behaviors. A comparison of the 3-factor model and the 2-class solution indicated that a dimensional model provided the best fit. Conclusions: Researchers have generally assumed that cyberbullying is a new form of aggression, a counterpart to overt and relational aggression, and this conceptualization fits the data quite well. Both media and form are important dimensions of aggression, but there may not be enough variation across types of cyberbullying behaviors to result in differentiation by form. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  November 10, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000081   open full text
• Seeing Roses in the Thorn Bush: Sexual Assault Survivors’ Perceptions of Social Reactions.
  Dworkin, Emily R.; Newton, Emily; Allen, Nicole E.
  Psychology of Violence. November 10, 2016
  Objective: After sexual assault, survivors often reach to others for support and receive a range of reactions. Although these reactions have been characterized by researchers as positive (e.g., emotional support) or negative (e.g., victim blaming), survivors vary in their perceptions in ways that do not always match this framework. The goal of this research was to examine the degree to which designations of reactions as “positive” or “negative” fits across types of reactions and explain instances of mismatch between these designations and survivors’ perceptions. Method: We conducted a qualitative analysis of interviews with 26 survivors of sexual assault to identify themes in their perceptions of social reactions. Results: Although social reactions were generally perceived in a manner that matched researcher categorizations, there was significant variation. Perceptions could be characterized in terms of whether the reaction felt comfortable/soothing, consistent with survivors’ needs/hopes/expectations, and helpful in the long-term. The closeness of survivors’ relationships with responders, the degree to which they were impacted by the assault, and the presence of other social reactions explained variation from researcher designations of reaction types. Conclusion: This study clarifies the considerations that survivors make when evaluating social reactions and what accounts for discrepant perceptions of these reactions; in particular, results highlight that there is no “one size fits all” reaction to survivors of sexual assault and the context in which reactions occur may affect how they are seen. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  November 10, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000082   open full text
• Good Practices in the Assessment of Victimization: The Spanish Adaptation of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire.
  Pereda, Noemí; Gallardo-Pujol, David; Guilera, Georgina.
  Psychology of Violence. October 20, 2016
  Objective: To provide the first validity evidence for the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ) under the causal indicators approach, using lifetime experiences of victimization in a community sample of adolescents, and to explore the associations between polyvictimization and psychopathological symptoms. Method: The final sample comprised 804 adolescents aged between 12 and 17 years (M = 14.52, SD = 1.76) and recruited from 7 secondary schools in northeastern Spain. Victimization experiences and psychopathological symptoms were assessed through the JVQ (Finkelhor, Hamby, Ormrod, & Turner, 2005) and the Youth Self-Report (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001). Results: There were low correlations between JVQ items, indicating that victimization events tend to be independent. The causal indicators model for causing psychological distress fitted the data, explaining up to 38% and 40% of the variance in internalizing and externalizing symptoms, respectively. Conclusions: An inappropriate approach to validation can have important consequences for applied research into victimization. Using a causal indicators approach it can be concluded that the JVQ is a valid assessment instrument that can obtain relevant information regarding victimization directly from children and adolescents. This information can be used to help tailor clinical interventions to the needs of child and adolescent victims. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 20, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000075   open full text
• Exposure to Family Violence and Dating Violence Perpetration in Adolescents: Potential Cognitive and Emotional Mechanisms.
  Calvete, Esther; Fernández-González, Liria; Orue, Izaskun; Little, Todd D.
  Psychology of Violence. October 17, 2016
  Objective: The aim of this 3-year study was to examine whether the association between exposure to family violence and dating violence perpetration was mediated by cognitive and emotional schemas. Method: A sample of 867 adolescents (64% girls, ages 12 to 18, M = 13.77, SD = 1.16) completed measures of exposure to family violence, cognitive and emotional schemas (disconnection and rejection, impaired limits, and justification of violence), and dating violence perpetration. Structural equation modeling for longitudinal data was used. Results: Disconnection and rejection schemas at Year 2 mediated the association between exposure to family violence at Year 1 and dating violence at Year 3. Exposure to family violence and impaired limits schemas at Year 1 predicted dating violence at Year 2. Lastly, in girls, exposure to family violence at Year 1 predicted impaired limits schemas at Year 2. Conclusion: Intergenerational transmission of violence occurs but represents a small effect. Disconnection and rejection schemas act as a mechanism through which violence in the family can be transmitted to violence in dating relationships. These schemas should be a target of preventive interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 17, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000076   open full text
• Substance Use and Intimate Partner Violence: A Meta-Analytic Review.
  Cafferky, Bryan M.; Mendez, Marcos; Anderson, Jared R.; Stith, Sandra M.
  Psychology of Violence. September 15, 2016
  Objectives: This meta-analysis examines the strength of the link between substance use (e.g., alcohol use vs. drug use) and intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and victimization. Method: Data from 285 studies (yielding 983 effect sizes (ESs) and a combined sample size of 627,726) were analyzed using random effects. Moderator analyses compared the impact of overall substance abuse, alcohol use, and drug use on IPV perpetration and victimization for males and females. Results: Overall substance use, alcohol use, and drug use were significantly related to IPV perpetration and victimization, with mean ESs ranging from r = .18 to .23. Results indicate that drug use is a significantly stronger correlate with victimization, compared with alcohol use. Problematic alcohol use measures (i.e., abuse, dependence, and drinking problems) were significantly stronger correlates than consumption measures (e.g., alcohol use or frequency) for IPV victimization, but statistically similar for IPV perpetration. Problematic drug use measures were significantly stronger correlates with perpetration than drug consumption measures. Surprisingly, there were no significant differences between the impact of different drug types, and no significant difference between the impact of stimulants versus nonstimulants on IPV perpetration and victimization. Conclusions: This study provides the most comprehensive analysis of the link between substance use and IPV to date. Even if certain drugs are regarded as a lower health risk, clinicians are encouraged to evaluate the impact on their clients’ IPV. Future IPV researchers are encouraged to include specific drug types and frequencies of substance use. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  September 15, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000074   open full text
• Mediators of the Relationship Between Sexual Assault and Sexual Functioning Difficulties Among College Women.
  Kelley, Erika L.; Gidycz, Christine A.
  Psychology of Violence. September 12, 2016
  Objective: Research has indicated that adolescent or adulthood sexual assault (ASA) is associated with sexual functioning difficulties; less research has examined mechanisms behind this relationship. The current study tested domains of trauma-related symptomatology as mediators of the relationship between ASA and domains of sexual functioning, while considering a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) as a covariate. Method: A sample of 501 sexually active college women from a midwestern university completed paper-and-pencil surveys assessing sexual assault history, trauma-related symptomatology (i.e., dissociation, anxiety, depression, sexual abuse trauma index, sleep difficulties), and sexual functioning (i.e., desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, pain). Results: Neither ASA nor CSA was directly related to sexual functioning. However, anxiety mediated the relationship between ASA and greater sexual pain and between ASA and fewer desire difficulties. A higher sexual abuse trauma index mediated the relationship between ASA and greater orgasm difficulties and fewer desire difficulties. Depression mediated the relationship between ASA and sexual pain. Conclusions: Results suggest potential unique psychological mediators of the relationship between ASA and sexual functioning difficulties. Integrative mental and sexual health care among college women survivors of sexual trauma is warranted. Future research should examine whether women who experience sexual pain and have a history of ASA benefit from psychological treatment targeting both trauma symptoms and anxiety related to pain. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  September 12, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000073   open full text
• Cumulative Victimization as a Predictor of Intimate Partner Violence Among Young Mothers.
  Kennedy, Angie C.; Bybee, Deborah; Palma-Ramirez, Evangelina; Jacobs, D'Andrea.
  Psychology of Violence. August 22, 2016
  Objective: To examine the effects of cumulative victimization on intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization among young mothers. Method: With a cross-sectional design that utilized the life history calendar method and was grounded in developmental traumatology and life course stress theory, we interviewed 60 young mothers (ages 16 to 21) about their retrospective yearly experiences with community and school violence, witnessing IPV, physical maltreatment by a caregiver, and sexual victimization, beginning at age 5; we retrospectively assessed for annual IPV victimization beginning with 1st dating partner. We obtained an average of 15 years of data per participant, which we analyzed using multilevel modeling. Results: This high-risk sample reported much higher rates of victimization than did similarly aged national samples, with lifetime prevalence of each type ranging from 60% to 84%. Cumulative victimization during childhood was positively associated with cumulative victimization during adolescence. A higher rate of cumulative victimization during childhood was associated with a steeper increase in the rate of IPV victimization during adolescence, after controlling for a range of predictors, though childhood cumulative victimization was not linked to IPV at age 16. Conclusions: Consistent with developmental traumatology and life course stress theory, which emphasize the role of early and proliferating stressors in shaping poor outcomes, childhood experiences with cumulative victimization may increase young mothers’ vulnerability to IPV victimization during adolescence. Researchers should embrace innovative methods to explore developmental trajectories of cumulative victimization, especially among high-risk groups; clinical practice and dating violence interventions must be evidence-based and trauma-informed to be effective. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 22, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000071   open full text
• Beyond Surveys and Scales: How Rape Myths Manifest in Sexual Assault Police Records.
  Shaw, Jessica; Campbell, Rebecca; Cain, Debi; Feeney, Hannah.
  Psychology of Violence. August 18, 2016
  Objective: The majority of sexual assault cases reported to police are never prosecuted. Prior literature has suggested rape myths may explain these trends because police are influenced by and draw upon rape myths in their beliefs, assumptions, and actions. However, prior research has relied on surveys to measure police attitudes; less is known regarding the extent to which these attitudes manifest in official sexual assault case records. The purpose of the current study was to determine the extent to which rape myths manifest in sexual assault investigations and develop a typology of statements that functionally operate as rape myths in official police records. Method: The written police records from N = 248 sexual assault cases were examined. Cases were coded via directed and conventional content analysis for rape myths. Results: Statements in police records drew upon rape myths that denied or justified the assault on the basis of specific circumstances of the assault (i.e., circumstantial statements) and specific characteristics of the victim (i.e., characterological statements). Statements in police reports also blamed victims for the way police responded to the assault (i.e., investigatory blame statements). Conclusions: Rape myth endorsement among police is evidenced in official sexual assault case records because they invoke traditional rape myths in documenting their investigations. More frequently, police account for their response by blaming the victim for a poor police investigation postassault. Findings suggest that future research should examine the extent to which such statements predict sexual assault case progression and that training for police should emphasize behavioral change (i.e., report writing). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 18, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000072   open full text
• A Latent Class Analysis of Past Victimization Exposures as Predictors of College Mental Health.
  Holt, Melissa K.; Felix, Erika; Grimm, Ryan; Nylund-Gibson, Karen; Green, Jennifer Greif; Poteat, V. Paul; Zhang, Cong.
  Psychology of Violence. August 11, 2016
  Objective: The transition to college offers both new opportunities and challenges, and it is important to identify which students might be at greatest risk for adjustment difficulties. To that end, this study examines how victimization before college affects the transition to college, with particular attention to how victimizations group together and how these groups are differentially associated with depression and anxiety. Method: Participants from 4 universities (n = 1,337; 65.0% women) participated in online surveys of college adjustment in the fall of their first year, with 435 also completing surveys in the spring of their first year. Students reported about victimization before college (i.e., peer victimization, dating violence, attempted/completed rape, and child maltreatment), and about their fall and spring depression and anxiety. Results: Using latent class analysis, results indicated 4 victimization groups existed: Minimal, Peer Victims, Poly (sexual) Victims, and Polyvictims. Broadly, the college students in the 2 polyvictimization groups reported more psychological distress than students in other groups, but there were not significant differences between students in the Minimal or Peer Victim groups. Conclusions: Findings highlight the necessity of support and intervention services on college campuses attending to victimization as an indicator of potential maladjustment among first year college students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 11, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000068   open full text
• Sibling Violence: Validating a Two-Factor Model of Severity in Nonoffender Populations.
  Khan, Roxanne.
  Psychology of Violence. August 08, 2016
  Objective: Despite a recent surge of academic and clinical interest in sibling violence (SV), valid measures of severity have not been psychometrically established using nonoffender populations. This study examined the factor structure of intentional SV severity in a nonforensic sample considered to be not at “high risk” for violence using the only existing empirically driven model of severe SV committed with intent (Khan & Cooke, 2013). The prior model was established in a high risk for violence, young offender sample (N = 111; mean age = 14.53) and revealed 2 underlying factors: “SV with weapon use” and “SV without weapon use.” Method: This study examined data from an older, mixed-community, and student sample (N = 899; M = 22.53) to test the factor structure and reliability of the existing severity model. Results: Participants reported a wide range of violent acts against their sibling(s) with the aim of injuring them, including weapon use. Using exploratory factor analyses and confirmatory factor analyses, the prior 2-factor model was empirically supported using this noncorrectional population. The new model comprised Factor 1 (potentially lethal SV) and Factor 2 (nonlife threatening SV). Conclusion: The generalizability of the original 2-factor model, established using an offender sample, was demonstrated in this nonoffender sample designated not at high risk for violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 08, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000067   open full text
• Gender, Sexism and the Social Representation of Stalking: What Makes the Difference?
  Miglietta, Anna; Acquadro Maran, Daniela.
  Psychology of Violence. August 08, 2016
  Objective: The present study had 2 main aims: to investigate how ordinary people conceptualize stalking behaviors and to analyze whether respondents’ gender and attitudes toward women are related to the way the phenomenon is described and understood. The research was conducted from the perspective of social representation. Method: Three hundred fifteen university students from Torino who had never experienced stalking completed a questionnaire investigating their knowledge about the phenomenon and the levels of sexism. The participants also provided their free definition of stalking. Results: The results showed that the participants identify the causes of stalking in distorted outcomes of romantic relationships, view its aim as controlling the victims, and attribute psychological pain to victims. Women tended to identify stalking with ambiguous behaviors; hostile sexists tended to undervalue psychological consequences in victims. The representations of stalking showed an opposition between morbidity and aggression in the stalking definition, associated with the endorsement of sexist attitudes toward women. Specifically, benevolent sexism favored a conception of stalking as an annoying but not truly dangerous event. Conclusion: It would be useful to reconsider the contents of prevention initiatives: they have to be directed more toward acting on the symptoms and causes of stalking. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 08, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000070   open full text
• The Effects of Men’s Hostility Toward Women, Acute Alcohol Intoxication, and Women’s Condom Request Style on Men’s Condom Use Resistance Tactics.
  Wegner, Rhiana; Davis, Kelly Cue; Stappenbeck, Cynthia A.; Kajumulo, Kelly F.; Norris, Jeanette; George, William H.
  Psychology of Violence. August 08, 2016
  Objective: The aim of this study was to extend previous research demonstrating that intoxicated men high in hostility toward women report stronger intentions to use coercive condom use resistance (CUR) tactics to have unprotected sex by examining the role of women’s condom request style. Method: Community, nonproblem-drinking men, ages 21–30 years (N = 296) completed standard alcohol administration procedures and read an eroticized story of a casual sexual interaction. After the woman’s request to use a condom, intentions to engage in coercive CUR tactics were assessed. Generalized linear models with gamma distributions assessed the 3-way interaction of men’s hostility toward women, beverage condition (alcohol or sober), and the woman’s condom request style (indirect, direct, or insistent). Results: The 3-way interaction among hostility toward women, beverage condition, and indirect condom request (vs. direct) significantly predicted men’s coercive CUR intentions. Men high in hostility toward women reported stronger CUR intentions after experiencing an indirect condom request, when sober or intoxicated, and after a direct condom request when intoxicated. Men high in hostility toward women reported the weakest CUR intentions when sober after an insistent or direct condom request. Conclusions: Men high in hostility toward women pose a threat to women’s sexual safety, particularly when intoxicated or after an indirect condom request. Hostility toward women and alcohol consumption should be addressed in sexual risk prevention programs. Pending further replication, women should be informed of the relative effectiveness of using insistent condom requests. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 08, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000069   open full text
• Evidence That Self-Affirmation Reduces Relational Aggression: A Proof of Concept Trial.
  Armitage, Christopher J.; Rowe, Richard.
  Psychology of Violence. July 07, 2016
  Objective: Acts of relational aggression cause significant social and personal costs, and interventions are needed to reduce relational aggression in community as well as clinical settings. The present study used a persuasive message coupled with a self-affirmation manipulation to reduce relational aggression among a group of adolescents recruited from the community. Method: Participants (N = 503) all received a persuasive message designed to reduce relational aggression and were randomly allocated to participate in a self-affirming or nonaffirming task. Results: Findings demonstrated a significant reduction in relational aggression over 1-month among participants who were randomized to the self-affirmation condition (d = −0.50) in contrast with a small increase in relational aggression in the control condition (d = +0.20). Contrary to expectations, these effects were not mediated by message processing or changes in interpersonal affect. Conclusion: The present study used the novel approach of asking pupils to self-affirm following a persuasive message and showed that it was possible to reduce relational aggression. Self-affirmation shows considerable promise as a means of augmenting the delivery of interventions to reduce antisocial behavior in addition to other social and health behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  July 07, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000062   open full text
• Dominance Orientations and Psychological Aggression in College Student Relationships: A Test of an Attachment Theory-Guided Model.
  McDermott, Ryon C.; Cheng, Hsiu-Lan; Lopez, Frederick G.; McKelvey, Daniel; Bateman, Liz Schneider.
  Psychology of Violence. July 07, 2016
  Objective: Adult attachment theory provides a unique framework for understanding psychological aggression in college student relationships; however, little is known about how attachment dimensions (anxiety and avoidance) are connected to specific forms of psychological aggression. The present study tested a model connecting attachment dimensions to 4 distinct forms of psychological aggression: restrictive engulfment, hostile withdrawal, denigration, and dominance-intimidation. The study also examined the mediating role of dominance orientations in the attachment-aggression connections. Method: Nine hundred and 8 college students (366 male and 542 female) who reported they were currently in a relationship lasting at least 6 months completed self-report questionnaires online at a large Midwest university. Results: After controlling for socially desirable responding and current levels of psychological abuse victimization, structural equation modeling indicated that the model was an acceptable fit to the data for men and women separately. Adult attachment anxiety was associated positively with all 4 domains of psychological aggression in the female sample and with restrictive engulfment in the male sample. By contrast, adult attachment avoidance was positively associated with hostile withdrawal in both samples and with denigration in the male sample but was complexly related to restrictive engulfment. Bootstrap analyses indicated that dominance orientations significantly mediated the associations between attachment and all 4 forms of psychological aggression in both samples. Conclusions: Study findings highlight the importance of examining attachment-driven needs for relational control in mixed-gender samples and suggest that specific psychologically aggressive behaviors may have distinct attachment-related motivations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  July 07, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000061   open full text
• Clinical considerations when intervening with individuals exposed to violence.
  Howell, Kathryn H.; Miller-Graff, Laura E.
  Psychology of Violence. June 30, 2016
  Objective: Clinical considerations that can be culled from the intervention research presented in this special issue are summarized for practitioners treating violence-involved (i.e., perpetrators and victims of violence) populations. Clinical reflections are organized thematically, with studies grouped based on (a) unique settings for clinical care, (b) innovative methods for clinical care, (c) advanced assessments for monitoring clinical care, and (d) co-occurring conditions to address when providing clinical care. Key Points: Unique settings for clinical service delivery, including hospitals and schools, provide opportunities for multicomponent and multidisciplinary treatment of violence-involved individuals. Innovative methods for clinical care incorporate technological advances and pharmacology to move beyond traditional service delivery techniques. Advanced assessments for clinical work consider not just psychopathology, but also adaptive functioning and cognitive sequelae when conceptualizing individuals involved in violence. HIV is one of many conditions that commonly co-occur with violence; ways to incorporate sexual risk into violence treatment and vice versa are addressed. Implications: Clinicians can consider this summary of clinical takeaway points as a practical resource for treating violence-involved populations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 30, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000057   open full text
• Interventions for preventing violence and remediating its negative effects: Contemporary priorities and future directions.
  Miller-Graff, Laura E.; Howell, Kathryn H.
  Psychology of Violence. June 30, 2016
  Background: Contemporary shifts in the field of clinical science have emphasized the value of transdiagnostic frameworks that focus on treatment components to target core causal factors of psychopathology, in addition to treatments focusing on the specific symptom clusters of diagnostic systems. Key points: This special issue frames the importance of intervening upon violence by focusing on the generalized effects of intervention, the processes whereby intervention exerts behavioral change, and examines the particular challenges of conducting rigorous research in violence-exposed populations. Implications: The studies presented here suggest the importance of etiological and transdiagnostic framing for intervention with violence-exposed populations. They further underscore the value of multimethod research and multisystemic engagement at all stages of treatment development, evaluation, and implementation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 30, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000058   open full text
• Protective Family Informal Social Control of Intimate Partner Violence in Beijing.
  Emery, Clifton R.; Wu, Shali; Kim, Oksoo; Pyun, Changhoon; Chin, Wynne W.
  Psychology of Violence. June 27, 2016
  Objective: Despite ample qualitative and anecdotal evidence that informal social control by extended family members is elicited by and has an impact on intimate partner violence (IPV), quantitative research on this topic is largely absent. Likewise, the literature on coercive control is underdeveloped in East Asia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between informal social control by family members, coercive control, and husbands’ IPV in a Chinese context. Method: Using data from a 3-stage cluster sample of 302 married and partnered Beijing women, we developed a 2-item measure of protective informal social control of IPV by adult family members. Both partial least squares and random effects regression models were used to evaluate hypotheses to guard against methodological artifacts. Results: Protective informal social control of IPV by adult family members was associated with significantly less IPV by the husband. Higher levels of protective informal social control of IPV were associated with a significantly weaker coercive control—IPV relationship for husbands’ IPV severity. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the protective/punitive distinction is a vital one for research on IPV. Moreover, findings indicate that highly controlling relationships are associated with less violence when protective control is present. Hence, interventions that boost protective control may help protect women against some of the most injurious, lethal forms of IPV. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 27, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000063   open full text
• Predictors of Resistance Self-Efficacy Among Rape Victims and Association With Revictimization Risk: A Longitudinal Study.
  Littleton, Heather; Decker, Melissa.
  Psychology of Violence. June 20, 2016
  Objective: Research supports that sexual assault victims are at high risk for revictimization. One factor potentially contributing to this risk is low self-efficacy to engage in assertive resistance behaviors that could reduce vulnerability to completed assault. However, there is a lack of research on resistance self-efficacy among victims, including the extent to which resistance self-efficacy prospectively predicts revictimization. The objective of the present study was to identify predictors of resistance self-efficacy among rape victims, as well as examine its role as a prospective predictor of revictimization risk. Method: Participants were 366 women with a rape history drawn from a sample of 1,955 college women who completed an online survey of their sexual victimization history, PTSD symptoms, and resistance self-efficacy. Participants also completed an 8-week follow-up survey that assessed new sexual victimization experiences (n = 206). Results: Both moderately and strongly assertive resistance self-efficacy was predicted by having a childhood sexual abuse history and rape-related PTSD. Moderately assertive resistance self-efficacy prospectively predicted lower risk for a new attempted rape, χ2(1, N = 199) = 5.33, p = .02, OR = 0.63, with a similar pattern of findings for experiencing unwanted touching and completed rape. Conclusions: Resistance self-efficacy is a potentially important predictor of revictimization, and its mediating (e.g., the association between general sexual assertiveness and revictimization) and moderating (e.g., the association between binge drinking and revictimization risk) role in revictimization models should be examined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 20, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000066   open full text
• School and community characteristics related to dating violence victimization among high school youth.
  Edwards, Katie M.; Neal, Angela M.
  Psychology of Violence. June 16, 2016
  Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine how school (e.g., school poverty rate) and community (e.g., county population density) characteristics relate to DV victimization and DV victim outcomes among high school youth. Method: The data used in this paper come from the 2013 New Hampshire Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Participants included in this study were 24,976 high school students from 71 public schools who completed the YRBS, ranged in age from 13 and to 18+ years old, and reported dating during the past year. Results: Physical DV victimization was related to higher school-level poverty rates and youth feeling low levels of community mattering. Sexual DV victimization was related to youth feeling low levels of community mattering and participating in community groups. Population density was unrelated to both physical and sexual DV victimization. Among DV victims, higher perceptions of community mattering was related to lower levels of depression and poor academics. DV victims not involved in community group participation had poorer academics than DV victims involved in community groups. Binge drinking was unrelated to school and community characteristics. Conclusions: Initiatives that focus on reducing poverty and improving youths’ perceptions of community mattering could be important components of more comprehensive efforts to reduce DV incidence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 16, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000065   open full text
• Understanding the Context of Romantic Partner Relational Victimization: Links Between Relationship Satisfaction, Depressive Symptoms, and Alcohol-Related Problems.
  DiBello, Angelo M.; Preddy, Teresa M.; Øverup, Camilla S.; Neighbors, Clayton.
  Psychology of Violence. June 06, 2016
  Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine links across romantic partner relational victimization, depressive symptoms, and drinking problems during young adulthood. We were interested in evaluating depression as a mediator of the association between relational victimization by one’s romantic partner, drinking problems, and the conditional indirect effects of relationship satisfaction. Method: Study participants included 269 individuals aged 18 to 26 years (68% female, Mage = 22.78 years, SD = 4.70). They completed self-report measures online. Results: Mediation results indicated that depression significantly mediated the association between relational victimization and alcohol-related problems. Furthermore, tests of conditional indirect effects suggest that depression mediated the association between romantic partner relational victimization and alcohol-related problems among those who were lower in relationship satisfaction, but not among those who were higher in relationship satisfaction. Conclusions: Findings are discussed with attention to the developmental significance of romantic relationships during the transition to young adulthood. Specifically, the current findings add to the existing literature, which has suggested that both relationship aggression and depression are associated with problematic drinking. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 06, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000064   open full text
• Differentiating intimate partner homicide from other homicide: A Swedish population-based study of perpetrator, victim, and incident characteristics.
  Caman, Shilan; Howner, Katarina; Kristiansson, Marianne; Sturup, Joakim.
  Psychology of Violence. May 26, 2016
  Objective: Intimate partner homicides (IPHs) continue to be widespread and constant over time when compared with other types of homicide. Yet research addressing IPH particularly within the European context, is limited. The question of whether perpetrators of partner-related violence differ from offenders of general violence has been raised in research. In light of inconsistent findings and ongoing debate, the aim was to identify sociodemographic and criminological characteristics in perpetrators and victims of IPH, and to determine whether they differ from other types of homicides in Sweden. Method: This retrospective study was based on national data of all male-perpetrated homicides (N = 211) in Sweden committed between 2007 and 2009. Characteristics of IPH (n = 46) and non-IPH (n = 165) were compared and analyzed by conducting bivariate and multiple logistic regressions. Results: Perpetrators of IPH were older, more likely to be employed, less likely to have been convicted, and had less persistent criminal histories. Perpetrators of IPH were also less likely to be intoxicated at the time of the offense; nonetheless, intoxication was a common feature among victims and perpetrators in both groups. Further, perpetrators of partner-related homicides are substantially more likely to commit suicide. Conclusion: The present study illustrates critical differences between IPH and non-IPH perpetrators. As hypothesized, IPH perpetrators were less socially disadvantaged, less likely to have past criminal offenses, and more likely to commit suicide following the homicidal act. This study demonstrates that perpetrators of IPH constitute a separate subtype and, conceptually, ought to be treated separately. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  May 26, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000059   open full text
• Just a dare or unaware? Outcomes and motives of drugging (“drink spiking”) among students at three college campuses.
  Swan, Suzanne C.; Lasky, Nicole V.; Fisher, Bonnie S.; Woodbrown, V. Diane; Bonsu, Janaé E.; Schramm, Andrew T.; Warren, Peter R.; Coker, Ann L.; Williams, Corrine M.
  Psychology of Violence. May 23, 2016
  Objective: Drugging (administering a drug to someone without their knowledge or consent) is acknowledged as a problem in “watch your drink” campaigns. However, research on this phenomenon is nascent. Prior research has primarily focused on drugging as a means of sexual assault, and has not addressed drugging more generally. Method: Survey data from 6,064 students at 3 universities was used to explore drugging among those who had drugged someone (or knew someone who had) and those who had been drugged. Results: More than 1 in 13 students reported being drugged (462 students, 7.8% of the sample, reported 539 incidents), and 83 students (1.4%) reported 172 incidents of drugging someone. Participants’ perceptions of why people drug others varied by gender. Women were much more likely to mention sex or sexual assault as a motive, while men were more likely to mention having fun as a motive. Participants also mentioned getting others more drunk or high and getting someone to relax as motives. It is possible that some motives (e.g., “to ‘loosen’ me up”) could be euphemisms for more coercive or sexual motives not directly stated. Outcomes for those drugged were also gendered, with female victims experiencing more negative outcomes, including sexual assault, blacking out, and getting sick. Although over 4 out of 5 of victims reported negative outcomes, a small number of (mostly male) victims said they enjoyed being drugged. Conclusions: To design interventions to prevent the negative consequences of drugging, the full context of drugging must be better understood. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  May 23, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000060   open full text
• In good company: Social network diversity may protect men against perpetrating sexual violence.
  Kaczkowski, Wojciech; Brennan, Carolyn L.; Swartout, Kevin M.
  Psychology of Violence. May 12, 2016
  Objective: The goal of the current study was to examine how diversity of men’s social networks might reduce their sexual violence, either directly or indirectly via their hostile attitudes toward women, when taking measures to account for perceptions of peer attitudes concerning sexual violence. Method: A sample of male college students completed a series of questionnaires concerning their sexual behavior, social networks, and individual and perceived peer attitudes toward women and sexual violence. Because the hypothesized sexual violence outcome was positively skewed, a series of count-based regression models were tested, then the mediational path model was fit using the most appropriate regression method. Results: Zero-inflated negative binomial regression fit the data best, meaning sexual violence was estimated as both men’s likelihood to perpetrate sexual violence and the sexual violence rate among likely perpetrators. Findings suggest social network diversity reduces the likelihood of perpetrating sexual violence indirectly through men’s hostility toward women. Furthermore, social network diversity directly reduces the rate of sexual violence among possible perpetrators. Conclusion: Findings suggest men who are active in more social groups are less likely to be sexually violent, and if they are, they tend to commit fewer acts of sexual violence. Furthermore, hostile attitudes toward women function as a mechanism linking peer-network diversity to men’s likelihood of perpetrating sexual violence. Although more research is needed to confirm the temporal order of these effects, these findings may inform bystander intervention programs and social norms campaigns intended to reduce the prevalence of campus sexual violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  May 12, 2016   doi: 10.1037/a0040295   open full text
• Psychological outcomes in reaction to media exposure to disasters and large-scale violence: A meta-analysis.
  Hopwood, Tanya L.; Schutte, Nicola S.
  Psychology of Violence. May 05, 2016
  Objective: A quantitative meta-analysis set out to consolidate the effect of experimental studies of media exposure to disasters and large-scale violence on negative psychological outcomes. Method: The meta-analysis included 18 experimental studies with an overall sample size of 1,634 to obtain an overall effect size and information regarding moderators of the effect size. Results: An overall significant and large effect size of Hedges’ g of 1.61 showed that, across studies, media exposure to disasters and large-scale violence was followed by negative psychological outcomes. Outcome type was a significant moderator, with anxiety reactions showing an especially strong effect. Community sensitization was a significant moderator, with studies conducted in a region that had recently been exposed to the type of disaster or violence portrayed in the media showing especially large effect sizes. Conclusion: The results indicate that media exposure to disasters and large-scale violence can cause negative psychological outcomes, at least transiently. Limitations included a lack of statistical power in some moderator analyses and the inability to draw inferences about the duration of effects. There is a need for further research aimed at identifying the possible cumulative effects of media exposure and identification of groups at greatest risk for harmful outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  May 05, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000056   open full text
• Outcomes of a restorative circles program in a high school setting.
  Ortega, Lilyana; Lyubansky, Mikhail; Nettles, Saundra; Espelage, Dorothy L.
  Psychology of Violence. April 28, 2016
  Objective: Restorative justice (RJ) was introduced into school systems as an alternative to ineffective zero-tolerance policies as another way of dealing with a disciplinary infractions. While school-based RJ has been gaining popularity within the United States, empirical research has been lacking. One RJ approach is Restorative Circles (RC), which provide a space for those involved in conflict to repair harm through a facilitated dialogue process. Given the minimal research, the aim of the present study was to examine student and staff experiences and outcomes after participating in an RC program. Method: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 35 high school students and 25 staff and administrators involved in some capacity with the RC program at their school. All participants were from a high school in a large urban center in the Southeast United States. Results: As part of a larger study a theoretical model was developed using grounded theory methodology. The emergent model included the following constructs: culture, barriers, internal motivation, engagement with RC, and outcomes. Only outcomes will be discussed in the current study. Both negative and positive outcomes emerged from the interview data. For negative outcomes, frustration and disappointment were key themes. For positive outcomes, ownership of the process, interrupting the school to prison pipeline, improved relationships, prevention of destructive ways of engaging conflict, meaningful dialogue, and academic and social achievements were key themes. Conclusions: This study provides researchers and practitioners with a theoretical framework to use as a foundation to better understand how individuals experience RC. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 28, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000048   open full text
• Effectiveness of universal school-based programs for prevention of violence in adolescents.
  Gavine, Anna J.; Donnelly, Peter D.; Williams, Damien J.
  Psychology of Violence. April 28, 2016
  Objective: Violence is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among young people. Primary preventive programs aimed at reducing the involvement of young people in violence are often implemented in a school setting. This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of universal school-based programs aimed at the primary prevention of violence in 11- to 18-year-olds. Method: A predefined search strategy was used to search various sources (i.e., databases, gray literature, previous reviews, and reference lists of included studies) for randomized design trials and quasi-experimental design trials published between 2002 and March 2014. After screening 8,051 abstracts, 21 studies that satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria were identified. These studies evaluated 16 different programs based mainly in the United States. Results: Due to the heterogeneity, a meta-analysis was not possible; thus, a narrative synthesis was reported. The most effective interventions utilized social development and social norms components. Attitudes toward violence was the most frequently measured outcome, with 6 studies reporting a beneficial effect and 2 reporting no effect; 3 of the 6 studies examining violent behavior demonstrated a small beneficial effect; and 4 of the 7 studies examining physical aggression demonstrated a small beneficial effect. Conclusions: In general, this review found limited evidence of the effectiveness of universal school-based programs in the primary prevention of violence in 11- to 18-year-olds; however, those that combined social development and social norms approaches appeared to be the most effective. Additional qualitative research and process evaluation is required to establish the processes that underpin the success or failure of such programs in order to inform their refinement and the future development of effective programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 28, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000052   open full text
• When is it “manly” to intervene?: Examining the effects of a misogynistic peer norm on bystander intervention for sexual aggression.
  Leone, Ruschelle M.; Parrott, Dominic J.; Swartout, Kevin M.
  Psychology of Violence. April 28, 2016
  Objective: The current study examined effects of the presence of a misogynistic male peer norm and masculine gender role stress (MGRS) on bystander intervention behavior for sexual aggression. Method: Undergraduate men (N = 104) engaged in a novel laboratory paradigm in which they and 3 male confederates watched a female confederate, who reported a strong dislike of sexual content in the media, view a sexually explicit film which they could stop at any time. Prior to the female viewing the film, participants were randomly assigned to an audience manipulation wherein the male confederates set a misogynistic or ambiguous group norm. Results: Zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression models indicated (a) the presence of a misogynistic peer norm decreased the odds of intervening, and (b) higher levels of MGRS significantly increased the rate of bystander intervention among participants exposed to a misogynistic, but not an ambiguous, norm. Conclusions: Findings highlight the importance of examining situational and individual level factors that may influence prosocial bystander intervention behavior to prevent sexual aggression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 28, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000055   open full text
• Acknowledgment of unwanted pursuit, threats, assault, and stalking in a college population.
  Spitzberg, Brian H.
  Psychology of Violence. April 14, 2016
  Objective: Some victims of harassment correctly acknowledge their victimizations, whereas others under- or overacknowledge their victim status. The validity of such acknowledgments has significant bearing on the validity of prevalence estimates as well as therapeutic or law enforcement prioritization of potential stalking cases. Method: Two surveys in 2012 (n = 2,727) and 2015 (n = 9,161) were emailed to the entire sampling frame of a single large public university student population, including several identical items referencing stalking experiences while at campus. Survey items identified 3 common elements relevant to both stalking laws and researchers: persistent unwanted harassment, evoked fear, and whether or not such harassment was labeled “stalking” by the victim. Results: Across the 2 studies, approximately 14% to 27% of the overall student population reported unwanted pursuit or harassment during their time on campus, 8% to 15% of these reported a sense of feeling threatened or afraid as a result, 5% to 9% experienced threats, and about 1% experienced physical assault in the context of such harassment episodes. Further, approximately 20% to 60% of those deciding whether the label “stalking” applies to their experience decided in error. Conclusions: Depending on the type of stalking victimization, 20% to 60% of those who apply or fail to apply the label “stalking” to their experience appear to do so in error. In order to facilitate progress in acknowledgment research, a new typology is developed, identifying likely types of moderating factors affecting acknowledgment, certain types of research design employed, and types of outcomes anticipated. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 14, 2016   doi: 10.1037/a0040205   open full text
• Growing against gangs and violence: Findings from a process and outcome evaluation.
  Densley, James A.; Adler, Joanna R.; Zhu, Lijun; Lambine, Mackenzie.
  Psychology of Violence. April 14, 2016
  Objective: The present study assesses program efficacy of Growing Against Gangs and Violence (GAGV), a primary prevention partnership with the U.K. Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), delivered in London schools with the aim of reducing gang involvement, delinquency, and violent offending and improving young people’s confidence in police. GAGV is partially derived from an American program, Gangs Resistance Education and Training (GREAT). Method: A qualitative process evaluation and randomized control trial (RCT) outcomes study were undertaken. Results: Findings indicate GAGV personnel were keen to enhance program fidelity and process implementation. The RCT did not demonstrate a statistically significant program effect. However, effect sizes (ESs) indicate the program was effective in reducing levels of gang membership and the frequency and variety of delinquency and violence in the short- and longer term. More robust evidence indicated GAGV also improved students’ attitudes toward police and reduced their adherence toward street code. Conclusions: The use of cohort- (not individual-) level data and missing data in the 1-year follow-up make it difficult to draw reliable and robust conclusions. However, results are encouraging. Several recommendations are suggested for GAGV, including curriculum design, regular evaluations, and expanding to include more schools. Limitations of this and similar evaluations also are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 14, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000054   open full text
• Teen dating violence: A meta-analytic review of prevalence rates.
  Wincentak, Katherine; Connolly, Jennifer; Card, Noel.
  Psychology of Violence. April 11, 2016
  Objective: The goals of the present review were to determine the prevalence of physical and sexual TDV among adolescents, obtain the rates of teen dating violence (TDV) separately by gender, and examine the potential moderation effects of age, demographics, and measurement. Method: A systematic literature search elicited 101 studies reporting rates for youth aged 13 to 18. Results: Meta-analytic combination produced an overall prevalence of 20% for physical TDV and 9% for sexual TDV. Significant variability in rates was found, with physical TDV ranging from 1% to 61% and sexual TDV ranging from <1% to 54%. Gender differences in physical TDV were significant for perpetration (boys 13% vs. girls 25%) but not for victimization (21% boys and girls). A different pattern was observed for sexual TDV with girls reporting lower rates of perpetration compared with boys (3% vs. 10%) and higher rates of victimization (14% vs. 8%). Moderator analyses revealed higher rates in samples representing higher proportions of older teens (sexual TDV), cultural minority girls (physical TDV), and disadvantaged neighborhoods (physical TDV). Studies using broad measurement tools yielded higher rates of both forms of TDV across gender. Conclusions: Basing the meta-analysis on a large pool of studies with comparable samples, 1 in 5 adolescents reported physical TDV and roughly 1 in 10 reported sexual TDV. Systematic bias in boys’ and girls’ self-reports was evident along with high variability in TDV rates across studies and significant moderator influences. These findings are suggestive of substantive methodological challenges in extant studies. The obtained rates should be cautiously interpreted and future research should address the methodological limitations of self-reported TDV, taking into consideration the potential influences of gender, demographics, age, and measurement issues when designing TDV research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 11, 2016   doi: 10.1037/a0040194   open full text
• Adapting an evidence-based HIV-prevention intervention for women in domestic violence shelters.
  Cavanaugh, Courtenay E.; Campbell, Jacquelyn; Braxton, Nikia; Harvey, Jenna; Wingood, Gina.
  Psychology of Violence. April 07, 2016
  Objective: Despite the documented intersection of intimate partner violence (IPV) and HIV, there is a paucity of evidence-based HIV prevention interventions for female survivors of IPV in the United States. This article describes the adaptation of an effective HIV prevention intervention, Sisters Informing Sisters About Topics on AIDS (SISTA), for women in domestic violence shelters and the steps taken to improve the adapted intervention’s implementation. Method: The adaptation process was guided by the ADAPT-ITT framework and data collected from directors, direct client service providers, and residents of 2 domestic violence shelters located in urban areas, as well as topical experts. Results: Eleven of 12 shelter staff (92%) reported that HIV interventions had never been implemented at their shelter and 64% reported they had not provided residents with educational brochures about HIV prevention. Changes made to adapt SISTA for this population and enhance the implementation of the intervention included reducing the intervention’s duration; adding education about the intersection of IPV, substance use, and HIV; and adding an HIV risk assessment and safety plan. Conclusions: Next steps will include implementing the adapted intervention and evaluating its perceived acceptability and efficacy, and assessing whether contextual factors influence the intervention’s implementation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 07, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000042   open full text
• Teen dating violence prevention: Cluster-randomized trial of <em>Teen Choices</em>, an online, stage-based program for healthy, nonviolent relationships.
  Levesque, Deborah A.; Johnson, Janet L.; Welch, Carol A.; Prochaska, Janice M.; Paiva, Andrea L.
  Psychology of Violence. April 07, 2016
  Objective: Teen dating violence is a serious public health problem. A cluster-randomized trial was conducted to assess the efficacy of Teen Choices, a 3-session online program that delivers assessments and individualized guidance matched to dating history, dating violence experiences, and stage of readiness for using healthy relationship skills. For high-risk victims of dating violence, the program addresses readiness to keep oneself safe in relationships. Method: Twenty high schools were randomly assigned to the Teen Choices condition (n = 2,000) or a Comparison condition (n = 1,901). Emotional and physical dating violence victimization and perpetration were assessed at 6 and 12 months in the subset of participants (total n = 2,605) who reported a past-year history of dating violence at baseline and/or who dated during the study. Results: The Teen Choices program was associated with significantly reduced odds of all 4 types of dating violence (adjusted odds ratios ranging from .45 to .63 at 12 months follow-up). For 3 of the 4 violence outcomes, participants with a past-year history of that type of violence benefited significantly more from the intervention than students without a past-year history. Conclusions: The Teen Choices program provides an effective and practicable strategy for intervention for teen dating violence prevention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 07, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000049   open full text
• Assessing the association between observed school disorganization and school violence: Implications for school climate interventions.
  Lindstrom Johnson, Sarah; Waasdorp, Tracy Evian; Cash, Anne Henry; Debnam, Katrina J.; Milam, Adam J.; Bradshaw, Catherine P.
  Psychology of Violence. April 07, 2016
  Objective: This study explored how observed features of the school physical and social environment relate to students’ perceptions of school climate and how these in turn were associated with students’ involvement in violence. Method: Observational assessments were conducted of the environments (i.e., disorder, illumination, adult monitoring, proactive behavioral management, and negative student behaviors) of 58 high schools using a validated assessment (the School Assessment for Environmental Typology). Student perceptions of school climate (i.e., delinquency, rules and consequences, and physical comfort) as well as their perpetration of violence were collected from 28,592 adolescents in these same schools in the corresponding Spring. Multilevel structural equation models were used to test for indirect effects. Results: A good fit was found for all models. No direct effects of environmental observations on violence involvement were identified. However, significant indirect effects on violence were found, specifically for illumination through perceptions of disorder (estimate = −.01, p = .05), illumination through perceptions of rules and consequences (estimate = −.01, p = .03), and negative student behaviors through perceptions of rules and consequences (estimate = −.01, p = .01). Conclusion: Changes to the school environment may be associated with reduced violence involvement, but only insofar as they alter student perceptions of the environment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 07, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000045   open full text
• Qualitative evaluation of the mentors in violence prevention pilot in Scottish high schools.
  Williams, Damien J.; Neville, Fergus G.
  Psychology of Violence. April 07, 2016
  Objective: The Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) program originated in the United States and adopts a bystander approach to gender-based violence prevention by harnessing group processes using a peer-learning model. This paper presents the first qualitative evaluation, within a European context, of a pilot application of MVP within a Scottish high school setting. Method: The evaluation comprises a series of interviews and focus groups with school staff, and pupils (‘mentors’ and ‘mentees’) at 3 participating schools. The study’s research purposes are to explore (a) experiences of participating in MVP, (b) participants’ perceived impact of MVP (with regards attitudinal and behavioral change with a particular emphasis on social norms), and (c) participants’ opinions on the relevance and sustainability of MVP. Results: All 3 categories of participant reported generally positive experiences of MVP in terms of recruitment, training, and implementation. The peer-learning model was particularly useful in engaging mentees, and facilitating support networks outside the classroom. Moreover, positive attitudinal and behavioral change regarding gender-based violence was reported by all 3 participant categories, but was particularly prevalent among mentors. However, participants highlighted the importance of ensuring MVP is culturally relevant, and the need for integration into school life to ensure its sustainability. Conclusions: An initial qualitative analysis of MVP within Scottish High Schools suggests the peer-learning program was experienced positively, with self-reported impact on gender-based violence attitudes and behaviors (including bystander intervention). A number of recommendations have been made to inform future implementation of MVP, and the need for robust, ongoing evaluation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 07, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000046   open full text
• Advancing survey science for intimate partner violence: The Partner Victimization Scale and other innovations.
  Hamby, Sherry.
  Psychology of Violence. March 31, 2016
  This reply addresses the key points raised by Straus as well as Jouriles and Kamata in their commentaries on Hamby (2016), including (a) that the Partner Victimization Scale (PVS) has already shown incremental validity because it has demonstrated a well-established form of validity, multimethod convergence, which some self-report measures cannot show, in addition to data on reliability and construct validity; (b) that it is not uncommon for new scientific technologies to lead to improvements in sensitivity as well as specificity, (c) that the PVS is a measure of intimate partner violence, not a measure of physical assault, which is why it also includes sexual violence (although gender parity is not found for the physical assault items); and (d) that the PVS does not refer to fear or any related terms. Additional data have replicated the PVS findings from Hamby’s Study 4, and new findings from other researchers have also shown that changes in item wording can bring intimate partner violence (IPV) self-report in line with other indicators regarding gender patterns. Of importance, the items on at least 2 of these methodologies, the PVS and the new Youth Risk Behavior Survey, increase disclosure of victimization by females. The conceptual basis for understanding how improved scientific technology can increase sensitivity and specificity is presented. It is an exciting time in IPV measurement because several alternatives that address the decades-old controversy in multimethod divergence in gender patterns are now available. It is hoped that more scientific innovation will occur in the future. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 31, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000053   open full text
• Advancing measurement of intimate partner violence.
  Jouriles, Ernest N.; Kamata, Akihito.
  Psychology of Violence. March 31, 2016
  This commentary considers Hamby’s (2016) use of a qualifier that specifies “Not including horseplay or joking around” when assessing intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization. We highlight some of the thinking behind the use of this qualifier, review findings of other studies that have used similar qualifiers, describe and discuss Hamby’s methods, and speculate on how the qualifier might affect measurement. We then offer several suggestions for additional research to improve measurement of IPV. These include addressing incremental validity, reducing measurement error, understanding how new or revised measures operate to improve prediction, and evaluating differential item and test functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 31, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000014   open full text
• Gender-violence, dyadic-violence, and dyadic concordance types: A conceptual and methodological alternative to Hamby (2016) that incorporates both the gendered and dyadic interaction aspects of violence to enhance research and the safety of women.
  Straus, Murray A.
  Psychology of Violence. March 31, 2016
  Part 1 evaluates Hamby’s (2016) Partner Victimization Scale (PVS) and concludes that it fails to identify cases of female PV and lacks validity. Part 2 evaluates Hamby’s results as if they were correct and shows women perpetrated 2/3 as much partner violence (PV) as men and that it is frequent and a serious problem needing immediate attention. Part 3 describes a mode of conceptualization and data analysis called Dyadic Concordance Types (DCTs), which measures PV at the couple level rather than the individual perpetrator level, by classifying couples as Male-Only, Female-Only, and Both assaulted. Reviews of more than 50 studies found about half of couples are in the Both assaulted category, about a quarter Male-Only, as well as Female-Only. This applies to treatment-involved cases, to data provided by women and men, moderate and severe forms of physical violence, and regardless of the instrument used to measure physical assault. DCTs provide a more realistic and comprehensive assessment of PV because they take into account both gendered and dyadic interaction aspects of PV and both victimization and perpetration. Identifying the DCTs of cases in research or interventions is a practical step to enhance research and increase the effectiveness of services by directing attention to analyzing and treating PV as a couple problem, while also identifying sole-perpetrators. It is likely to be especially helpful in reducing violence against women. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 31, 2016   doi: 10.1037/a0039616   open full text
• A feasibility test of a brief motivational interview intervention to reduce dating abuse perpetration in a hospital setting.
  Rothman, Emily F.; Wang, Na.
  Psychology of Violence. March 24, 2016
  Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the intervention development process and feasibility testing of a hospital-based brief intervention to reduce the perpetration of adolescent dating abuse (ADA). To our knowledge this intervention is the first to focus exclusively on ADA perpetration reduction via a motivational interview-type intervention in this setting. Method: The rationale for and the 6 Intervention Mapping steps used to generate the intervention are described. Feasibility is conceptualized as intervention acceptability, demand, implementation, practicality, integration, and limited efficacy. Results: The Real Talk intervention was smoothly integrated into the emergency department setting. Participants did not experience any negative impact, and most (86%) reported that they felt helped. Quantitative assessments suggest that the intervention reduced the number of participants in the precontemplation stage of change regarding their use of relationship violence and may have moved them forward into the action stage. Real Talk participants were more likely than those in the control group to tell friends to help them stay calm around their partner after drinking alcohol and to talk with their doctor to get help for their problems. Conclusions: Real Talk was developed to meet an unmet need for tertiary ADA interventions in nonschool settings. It was developed in accordance with a recommended framework, informed by theory, and subsequently tested for feasibility. Feasibility assessment results suggest that Real Talk can be implemented in health-care settings and may influence attitudinal and behavioral outcomes in the desired directions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 24, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000050   open full text
• Medication-assisted treatment and violent outcomes in community-based offenders with alcohol and drug use problems.
  Desmarais, Sarah L.; Gray, Julie S.; Rade, Candalyn B.; Cohn, Amy M.; Doherty, Stephen; Knight, Kevin.
  Psychology of Violence. March 24, 2016
  Objective: This study explored medication-assisted treatment (MAT), the combined use of medication and psychosocial treatment, as a strategy for reducing violent outcomes in community-based offenders. The primary aims were to (a) examine associations between participant characteristics and treatment adherence, (b) examine associations between treatment adherence and substance use, (c) examine associations between treatment adherence and violent outcomes, and (d) determine whether associations between treatment adherence and violent outcomes may be attributable to reductions in substance use. Method: Baseline interviews were completed with 129 male offenders in community-based treatment prior to their 1st MAT appointment. Follow-up interviews (n = 91) were conducted approximately 90 days later. Results: Participant age was associated with medication adherence. Medication nonadherence was associated with at least occasional alcohol use but not drug use. Conversely, missing several counseling sessions was associated with at least occasional drug use but not alcohol use. Results of multivariable analyses suggested MAT may be effective in reducing violent outcomes, and victimization specifically, through reductions in alcohol use. Conclusion: Findings provide evidence supporting MAT as an intervention for victimization. Continued efforts are needed to explore strategies to promote treatment adherence and reduce violent outcomes in community-based offenders with alcohol and drug use problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 24, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000047   open full text
• Lessons learned in evaluating a multisite, comprehensive teen dating violence prevention strategy: Design and challenges of the evaluation of dating matters: Strategies to promote healthy teen relationships.
  Niolon, Phyllis Holditch; Taylor, Bruce G.; Latzman, Natasha E.; Vivolo-Kantor, Alana M.; Valle, Linda Anne; Tharp, Andra T.
  Psychology of Violence. March 17, 2016
  Objective: This paper describes the multisite, longitudinal cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) design of the evaluation of the Dating Matters: Strategies to Promote Healthy Relationships initiative, and discusses challenges faced in conducting this evaluation. Method: Health departments in 4 communities are partnering with middle schools in high-risk, urban communities to implement 2 models of teen dating violence (TDV) prevention over 4 years. Schools were randomized to receive either the Dating Matters comprehensive strategy or the “standard of care” strategy (an existing, evidence-based TDV prevention curriculum). Our design permits comparison of the relative effectiveness of the comprehensive and standard of care strategies. Multiple cohorts of students from 46 middle schools are surveyed in middle school and high school, and parents and educators from participating schools are also surveyed. Results: Challenges discussed in conducting a multisite RCT include site variability, separation of implementation and evaluation responsibilities, school retention, parent engagement in research activities, and working within the context of high-risk urban schools and communities. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of our approaches to these challenges in the hopes of informing future research. Conclusions: Despite multiple challenges, the design of the Dating Matters evaluation remains strong. We hope this paper provides researchers who are conducting complex evaluations of behavioral interventions with thoughtful discussion of the challenges we have faced and potential solutions to such challenges. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 17, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000043   open full text
• Long-term influence of intimate partner violence and parenting practices on offspring trauma symptoms.
  Ehrensaft, Miriam K.; Knous-Westfall, Heather; Cohen, Patricia.
  Psychology of Violence. March 17, 2016
  Objective: This study examined the prospective association of parental reports of intimate partner violence (IPV) involvement (perpetration and/or victimization) with offspring trauma symptoms an average of 6 years later and the moderating influence of positive and negative parenting. Method: The Children in the Community Study followed a representative sample of youth (Generation 2) and their parents (Generation 1) over 25 years, including their own offspring (Generation 3) in the final 2 of these 7 assessments. The sample includes male (n = 92) and female (n = 151) original Generation 2 study members who completed measures of IPV and had children (Generation 3) by Wave 5 (1999). Parents completed measures of parenting at Wave 6 (2001–2004), and child’s trauma symptoms at Wave 7 (2006–08). Results: IPV predicted child trauma symptoms, controlling for demographic risks. For fathers, but not mothers, this association held when controlling for stressful life events and psychopathology. IPV predicted lower positive and higher negative parenting practices. Positive parenting moderated the association of IPV with child trauma symptoms. Conclusion: Childhood exposure to IPV between parents may increase the distal risk for trauma symptoms. IPV predicts more negative and less supportive parenting practices. Positive parenting may be protective, though perhaps not at extreme levels of IPV. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 17, 2016   doi: 10.1037/a0040168   open full text
• Stalking-like behavior in adolescence: Prevalence, intent, and associated characteristics.
  Ybarra, Michele L.; Langhinrichsen-Rohling, Jennifer; Mitchell, Kimberly J.
  Psychology of Violence. March 17, 2016
  Objective: To understand how self-reported malicious intent relates to characteristics of stalking-like behavior among adolescents, including type of stalking-like behavior and number of people targeted. Methods: Data were collected nationally online between 2010 and 2012 from 1,058 adolescents, 14 to 21 years old. Measures included lifetime rates of 6 stalking-like behaviors, self-reported malicious intent (i.e., the explicit intent to frighten, upset, anger, or annoy someone), and 3 psychosocial correlates. Results: Thirty-six percent of youth reported ever engaging in at least 1 of the 6 stalking-like behaviors. “Trying to get someone’s attention by doing something ‘over the top’” and “trying to talk to someone who does not want to talk to you,” representing hyper-intimacy and intrusive pursuit respectively, were the most frequently reported stalking-like behaviors. Eight percent reported engaging in at least 1 of the 6 stalking-like behaviors with malicious intent. Twelve percent reported targeting at least 2 different people. Engaging in these behaviors in-person was most common; online was least common. The odds of reporting stalking-like behavior decreased incrementally with age. Propensity to respond to stimuli with anger and alcohol use were positively associated whereas empathy was negatively associated with the report of perpetrating stalking-like behaviors. Conclusions: Engaging in stalking-like behavior was not uncommon in adolescence, but self-reports of malicious intent were relatively rare. The most frequently reported behaviors may reflect inexperience in youths’ relationship formation and dissolution skills. Health professionals should be aware that adolescents are not immune to engaging in stalking-like behaviors and are willing to answer direct questions about these behaviors and their intent. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 17, 2016   doi: 10.1037/a0040145   open full text
• Associations of couples’ intimate partner violence in young adulthood and substance use: A dyadic approach.
  Low, Sabina; Tiberio, Stacey S.; Shortt, Joann Wu; Capaldi, Deborah M.; Eddy, J. Mark.
  Psychology of Violence. March 07, 2016
  Objective: Despite numerous studies on associations between substance use and intimate partner violence (IPV), the literature lacks consistency and clarity, making it difficult to ascertain the strength and nature of such associations. Scientific understanding of contextual factors that contribute to IPV would be enhanced by studies adopting a dyadic perspective. The current study advances the literature by examining the role of alcohol and marijuana use on couples’ IPV using an actor-partner framework. Method: Data were drawn from a community-based sample of 323 young adults at risk for delinquency and their romantic partners. Young adults and partners reported on their own alcohol and marijuana use and their own and their partners’ IPV. Results: Results indicate actor and partner effects for psychological and sexual IPV; men and women who used more substances experienced greater IPV perpetration and victimization compared with men and women who used fewer substances. The only significant predictor of physical IPV was an actor effect, in which women’s polysubstance use (vs. abstention) was predictive of higher levels of victimization. Conclusions: Findings indicate associations between alcohol use and IPV, particularly for men, and for polysubstance users of both sexes. This is consistent with other findings indicating that although alcohol use is a risk factor for IPV; effects vary considerably as a function of context, methodology, and samples. Given the presence of actor and partner effects, studies that use dyadic frameworks have the potential to yield more precise knowledge about the role of substance use in IPV. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 07, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000038   open full text
• A meta-analytic review of peer risk factors and adolescent dating violence.
  Garthe, Rachel C.; Sullivan, Terri N.; McDaniel, Michael A.
  Psychology of Violence. March 07, 2016
  Objective: Dating violence occurs frequently among adolescents and is associated with negative physical and psychosocial outcomes. Because of the variety of peer risk factors, methodologies, and the evolving literature in adolescent dating violence, a meta-analytic review of these peer influences is needed. Three peer risk factors that appear to be particularly important for adolescent involvement in dating violence include peers’ violent dating behaviors, peers’ aggressive and/or antisocial behavior, and being victimized by peers. Method: Three separate meta-analyses were conducted to synthesize the literature on each of the 3 peer risk factors for adolescent dating violence, incorporating 27 articles and data from 28,491 adolescents. Results: Meta analyses illustrated that peer dating violence (r = .30), peers’ aggressive and/or antisocial behavior (r = .20) and being victimized by peers (r = .22) were all significantly related to adolescent dating violence perpetration and victimization. Moderation analyses showed differential results depending on how sex was analyzed, sampling techniques, and type of peer behaviors. Conclusion: The current study provided a necessary fusion of the literature on 3 distinct peer risk factors for adolescent dating violence. The findings inform current theoretical perspectives that address peer risk factors for adolescent dating violence, inform existing dating violence prevention programs, and provide future research directions for examining relations between peer behaviors and dating violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 07, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000040   open full text
• Trauma exposure, PTSD symptoms, and presenting clinical problems among male perpetrators of intimate partner violence.
  Semiatin, Joshua N.; Torres, Steffany; LaMotte, Adam D.; Portnoy, Galina A.; Murphy, Christopher M.
  Psychology of Violence. March 07, 2016
  Objective: This study explores trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and diagnosis, and PTSD symptom associations with key presenting problems in male intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators. The goal is to elucidate the implications of trauma and PTSD for understanding the presenting clinical problems of partner violent men. Method: Male IPV perpetrators (n = 293) at a community-based agency completed assessments of their past traumatic event exposures; current PTSD symptoms; depression; alcohol problems; illicit drug use; relationship problems; and perpetration of physical assault, psychological aggression, injury, sexual coercion, and general (nonrelationship) violence. Results: Seventy-seven percent of participants reported past trauma exposure, 62% reported multiple trauma exposures, and 11% screened positive for a probable diagnosis of PTSD. PTSD symptom levels were significantly correlated with depression, alcohol and drug use, general violence, and all indicators of relationship maladjustment and abuse. In multivariate analyses, PTSD symptoms uniquely predicted relationship dysfunction and relationship abuse over and above the influence of alcohol problems, drug use, and depression, and all 3 PTSD symptom clusters had some unique associations with relationship abuse scales. Conclusion: Trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms should be routinely assessed in IPV perpetrator treatment. More research is needed to determine whether PTSD symptoms influence treatment response and to investigate trauma-informed interventions for this population. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 07, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000041   open full text
• In-the-moment dissociation, emotional numbing, and sexual risk: The influence of sexual trauma history, trauma symptoms, and alcohol intoxication.
  Stappenbeck, Cynthia A.; George, William H.; Staples, Jennifer M.; Nguyen, Hong; Davis, Kelly Cue; Kaysen, Debra; Heiman, Julia R.; Masters, N. Tatiana; Norris, Jeanette; Danube, Cinnamon L.; Gilmore, Amanda K.; Kajumulo, Kelly F.
  Psychology of Violence. March 07, 2016
  Objective: Prior research on the effects of sexual trauma has examined dissociation but not emotional numbing during sex and has relied exclusively on retrospective surveys. The present experiment examined associations among distal factors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA), adolescent/adult sexual assault (ASA), and trauma symptoms and the proximal factor of acute alcohol intoxication on in-the-moment dissociation, emotional numbing, and sexual risk intentions. Method: Young adult female drinkers (N = 436) at elevated sexual risk were randomized to receive alcohol (target peak breath alcohol concentration = .10%) or no alcohol. They then read an eroticized sexual scenario and reported on their dissociation and emotional numbing experiences, unprotected sex refusal self-efficacy, and unprotected sex intentions. Results: Path analysis revealed that CSA was indirectly associated with increased unprotected sex intentions through increased ASA severity, increased trauma-related symptoms, increased emotional numbing, and decreased unprotected sex refusal self-efficacy. Further, alcohol intoxication was indirectly associated with increased unprotected sex intentions through increased emotional numbing and decreased unprotected sex refusal self-efficacy. Conclusions: Emotional numbing, but not dissociation, was associated with unprotected sex intentions and may be 1 potential target for interventions aimed at reducing HIV/STI-related risk among women with a history of sexual trauma. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 07, 2016   doi: 10.1037/a0039978   open full text
• Emotion regulation and self blame as mediators and moderators of trauma-specific treatment.
  Sharma-Patel, Komal; Brown, Elissa J.
  Psychology of Violence. February 25, 2016
  Objective: Efficacy of trauma-specific cognitive–behavioral therapies (Trauma-Focused CBT; Alternatives for Families CBT) in treating sequelae (posttraumatic stress disorder, PTSD; depression; conduct problems) for affected youth and families is established. Despite the emphasis on emotional and cognitive processes in explanatory models of sequelae and the inclusion of components to address these impairments, this is the first study to examine how emotion dysregulation and attributions of blame mediate or moderate treatment changes. Method: About 118 youth with trauma histories, ages 4–17 years old, and caregivers who completed treatment were included in the analyses, providing self- and/or caregiver-reported assessments that yielded indices of trauma history, behavioral and emotional symptomatology, emotion dysregulation, and self-blame. Results: PTSD symptoms and conduct problems significantly decreased across treatment. Analyses provided support for emotion dysregulation as a moderator of the reduction of PTSD symptoms and conduct behavior problems across treatment. Self-blame was a partial mediator and a moderator of conduct problems. Conclusions: Baseline emotion dysregulation and self-blame influenced trajectories of treatment reductions of PTSD and/or conduct problems, extending emotion and cognitive theories of symptom development to explain treatment-related changes. Patterns of change suggest a framework for selecting components to match clinical presentations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  February 25, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000044   open full text
• The situational-cognitive model of adolescent bystander behavior: Modeling bystander decision-making in the context of bullying and teen dating violence.
  Casey, Erin A.; Lindhorst, Taryn; Storer, Heather L.
  Psychology of Violence. January 28, 2016
  Objective: Despite the proliferation of bystander approaches to prevent aggression among youth, theoretical models of violence-related bystander decision making are underdeveloped, particularly among adolescents. The purpose of this research was to examine the utility of 2 theories, the Situational Model of Bystander behavior (SMB) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), for identifying mechanisms underlying adolescent bystander behavior in the context of bullying and teen dating violence (TDV). Method: Data were collected via face to face (local) and online (national) focus groups with 113 U.S. adolescents aged 14–18 and were subsequently analyzed using deductive and inductive coding methods. Results: Youth endorsed beliefs consistent with both the SMB and TPB and with additional constructs not captured by either theory. Adolescents reported a higher proportion of barriers relative to facilitators to taking action, with perceptions of peer norms and social consequences foremost among their concerns. Many influences on bystander behavior were similar across TDV and bullying. Implications: Findings are organized into the proposed Situational-Cognitive Model of Adolescent Bystander Behavior, which synthesizes the SMB and TPB, and supports the tailoring of bystander interventions. For teens, intervening is a decision about whether and how to navigate potential social consequences of taking action that unfold over time; intervention approaches must assess and acknowledge these concerns. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 28, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000033   open full text
• Intimate partner violence victimization in LGBT young adults: Demographic differences and associations with health behaviors.
  Reuter, Tyson R.; Newcomb, Michael E.; Whitton, Sarah W.; Mustanski, Brian.
  Psychology of Violence. January 25, 2016
  Objective: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an important public health problem with high prevalence and serious costs. Although literature has largely focused on IPV among heterosexuals, studies have recently begun examining IPV in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) samples, with mounting evidence suggesting IPV may be more common among LGBT individuals than heterosexuals. Less research has examined the specific health consequences of IPV in this population, particularly across time and among young people, and it remains unclear whether experiences of IPV differ between subgroups within the LGBT population (e.g., race, gender identity, and sexual orientation). Method: An ethnically diverse sample of 172 LGBT young adults completed self-report measures of IPV, sexual behavior, mental health, and substance abuse at 2 time points (4- and 5-year follow-up) of an ongoing longitudinal study of LGBT youth. Results: IPV was experienced nonuniformly across demographic groups. Specifically, female, male-to-female transgender, and Black/African American young adults were at higher risk compared with those who identified as male, female-to-male transgender, and other races. Being a victim of IPV was associated with concurrent sexual risk taking and prospective mental health outcomes but was not associated with substance abuse. Conclusions: Demographic differences in IPV found in heterosexuals were replicated in this LGBT sample, though additional research is needed to clarify why traditional risk factors found in heterosexual young people may not translate to LGBT individuals. Studies examining the impact of IPV on negative outcomes and revictimization over time may guide our understanding of the immediate and delayed consequences of IPV for LGBT young people. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 25, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000031   open full text
• Gendered social learning, nonfamily institutions, and attitudes about recourse after partner violence.
  Yount, Kathryn M.; Krause, Kathleen H.
  Psychology of Violence. January 25, 2016
  Objective: To provide the first study in Vietnam of how gendered social learning about violence and exposure to nonfamily institutions influence women’s attitudes about a wife’s recourse after physical intimate partner violence (IPV). Method: A probability sample of 532 married women, ages 18 to 50 years, was surveyed in July through August, 2012 in Mỹ Hào district. We fit a multivariate linear regression model to estimate correlates of favoring recourse in 6 situations using a validated attitudinal scale. We split attitudes toward recourse into 3 subscales (disfavor silence, favor informal recourse, favor formal recourse) and fit 1 multivariate ordinal logistic regression model for each behavior to estimate correlates of favoring recourse. Results: On average, women favored recourse in 2.8 situations. Women who were older and had witnessed physical IPV in childhood had less favorable attitudes about recourse. Women who were hit as children, had completed more schooling, worked outside agriculture, and had sought recourse after IPV had more favorable attitudes about recourse. Conclusions: Normative change among women may require efforts to curb family violence, counsel those exposed to violence in childhood, and enhance women’s opportunities for higher schooling and nonagricultural wage work. The state and organizations working on IPV might overcome pockets of unfavorable public opinion by enforcing accountability for IPV rather than seeking to alter ideas about recourse among women. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 25, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000029   open full text
• Ethical challenges of randomized violence intervention trials: Examining the SHARE intervention in Rakai, Uganda.
  Wagman, Jennifer A.; Paul, Amy; Namatovu, Fredinah; Ssekubugu, Robert; Nalugoda, Fred.
  Psychology of Violence. January 25, 2016
  Objective: We identify complexities encountered, including unanticipated crossover between trial arms and inadequate “standard of care” violence services, during a cluster randomized trial (CRT) of a community-level intimate partner violence (IPV) and HIV prevention intervention in Uganda. Method: Concepts in public health ethics—beneficence, social value of research, fairness, standard of care, and researcher responsibilities for posttrial benefits—are used to critically reflect on lessons learned and guide discussion on practical and ethical challenges of violence intervention CRTs. Results: Existing ethical guidelines provide incomplete guidance for responding to unexpected crossover in CRTs providing IPV services. We struggled to balance duty of care with upholding trial integrity, and identifying and providing appropriate standard of care. While we ultimately offered short-term IPV services to controls, we faced additional challenges related to sustaining services beyond the “short-term” and posttrial. Conclusion: Studies evaluating community-level violence interventions, including those combined with HIV reduction strategies, are limited yet critical for developing evidence-based approaches for effectively preventing IPV. Although CRTs are a promising design, further guidance is needed to implement trials that avoid introducing tensions between validity of findings, researchers’ responsibilities to protect participants, and equitable distribution of CRT benefits. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 25, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000037   open full text
• Understanding the factors that predict victim retraction in police reported allegations of intimate partner violence.
  Sleath, Emma; Smith, Lisa L.
  Psychology of Violence. January 25, 2016
  Objective: A large number of victims of intimate partner violence (IPV), who report their victimization to the police, subsequently either retract or disengage from the police investigation. Given that we have a very limited understanding of victim retraction/disengagement in IPV cases, this study addresses this gap by identifying the victim, perpetrator, and offense characteristics that predict retraction/disengagement. Method: Cases of police-reported IPV (n = 524) were analyzed to examine victim, perpetrator, and offense characteristics that may predict retraction or disengagement as well as examining the reasons given for retracting/disengaging from the police investigation. Results: The results indicated a high level of retraction or disengagement from police investigations. Victim and perpetrator characteristics did not predict retraction or disengagement; however, in comparison with cases in which the victims maintain engagement with the case, a number of offense related characteristics (e.g., risk assessment level) did predict retraction and disengagement. Conclusions: Victim retraction and disengagement is a significant issue in the successful prosecution of IPV cases, and the findings suggest that certain offense related characteristics increase the likelihood of victim retraction/disengagement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 25, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000035   open full text
• Empirical investigation of a model of sexual minority specific and general risk factors for intimate partner violence among lesbian women.
  Lewis, Robin J.; Mason, Tyler B.; Winstead, Barbara A.; Kelley, Michelle L.
  Psychology of Violence. January 21, 2016
  Objective: This study proposed and tested the first conceptual model of sexual minority specific (discrimination, internalized homophobia) and more general risk factors (perpetrator and partner alcohol use, anger, relationship satisfaction) for intimate partner violence among partnered lesbian women. Method: Self-identified lesbian women (N = 1,048) were recruited from online market research panels. Participants completed an online survey that included measures of minority stress, anger, alcohol use and alcohol-related problems, relationship satisfaction, psychological aggression, and physical violence. Results: The model demonstrated good fit and significant links from sexual minority discrimination to internalized homophobia and anger, from internalized homophobia to anger and alcohol problems, and from alcohol problems to intimate partner violence. Partner alcohol use predicted partner physical violence. Relationship dissatisfaction was associated with physical violence via psychological aggression. Physical violence was bidirectional. Conclusions: Minority stress, anger, alcohol use, and alcohol-related problems play an important role in perpetration of psychological aggression and physical violence in lesbian women’s intimate partner relationships. The results of this study provide evidence of potentially modifiable sexual minority specific and more general risk factors for lesbian women’s partner violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 21, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000036   open full text
• Identification of patterns of dating aggression and victimization among urban early adolescents and their relations to mental health symptoms.
  Goncy, Elizabeth A.; Sullivan, Terri N.; Farrell, Albert D.; Mehari, Krista R.; Garthe, Rachel C.
  Psychology of Violence. January 21, 2016
  Objective: The aim of this study was to identify patterns of dating aggression and victimization in urban early adolescents and their relations to mental health symptoms. Method: Participants were students in 3 urban public middle schools who reported having a boyfriend or girlfriend in the past 3 months (n = 938). The sample (M = 13.3 years old) was 52% female, 73% African American, 15% multiracial, 4% White, and 8% other races; 13% were also Hispanic or Latino. Participants reported their frequency of experiencing and perpetrating 10 dating aggression behaviors. Results: Latent class analysis identified typologies of dating aggression and victimization. The best fitting model was a 5-class model that classified youth as uninvolved (54.6%), victims (8.3%), aggressors (9.7%), psychologically aggressive victims (22.0%), and aggressive victims (5.4%). Groups also differed on measures of trauma-related distress and problem behaviors, specifically physical aggression, even after consideration of exposure to community violence. Conclusions: These findings suggest that subtypes of dating aggression exist in middle school that are characterized by differing levels and types of involvement and relations to mental health symptoms. These results support the need for prevention and intervention programs focusing on early adolescent dating aggression, particularly to also prevent trauma-related distress and problem behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 21, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000039   open full text
• The role of posttraumatic stress as a pathway to psychopathology among youth at high-risk for victimization.
  Cromer, Kelly D.; Villodas, Miguel T.
  Psychology of Violence. January 21, 2016
  Objective: Early victimization elevates children’s risk for developing psychopathology. Recent findings suggest that disruptions in developmental processes related to symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS) may partially account for the association between early victimization and subsequent psychopathology. The present study prospectively tested the temporal sequencing of these associations using multiinformant measurements in a large, diverse sample of children at high risk for victimization. Method: This study measured victimization (i.e., direct, indirect, familial, and nonfamilial violence), PTS, externalizing, and internalizing problems among 1154 children (561 girls and 593 boys) who participated in the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN). Results: Structural equation modeling revealed that, in addition to directly impacting psychopathology, childhood victimization contributed to escalations in internalizing and externalizing problems as children transitioned from middle to late childhood indirectly through PTS. The mediational role of PTS was largely similar for girls and boys and for those who were investigated for early reports of maltreatment and those identified early as at-risk for victimization. Conclusions: This study delineated the role of PTS in the development of psychopathology following early victimization. These findings highlight the importance of carefully assessing for underlying trauma symptoms when considering diverse presentations of psychopathology among youth who have been victimized. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 21, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000034   open full text
• Developing an instrument to measure organizational trauma-informed care in human services: The TICOMETER.
  Bassuk, Ellen L.; Unick, George J.; Paquette, Kristen; Richard, Molly K.
  Psychology of Violence. January 21, 2016
  Objective: To describe the development of a new measure, the TICOMETER, a brief assessment tool that can measure trauma-informed care (TIC) in health and human service organizations at a single point in time or repeatedly as well as determine training needs. Methods: With the input of an expert panel we selected relevant items and domains. Initially we organized the instrument into 5 domains consisting of 189 items that were then scored by 424 service providers representing 68 organizations. Using an iterative approach, we selected the 35 psychometrically strongest items across 5 domains. Within each domain a set of rating scale models (RSM), confirmatory factor analytic models (CFA), internal consistency and test–retest reliability statistics, and receiver operating curves were used to assesse the item fit, reliability, and face and construct validity of the TICOMETER. Results: The 5 TICOMETER domains had high reliability along with good item and CFA fit. Strong associations between domain scores and a priori rankings demonstrated validity of the domains. Conclusion: The TICOMETER has strong psychometric properties, creating new possibilities for assessing the level of TIC offered by an organization, monitoring progress in service delivery over time, determining training needs, and developing trauma-informed policies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 21, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000030   open full text
• An empirical examination of the strength differential hypothesis in cyberbullying behavior.
  Barlett, Christopher P.; Prot, Sara; Anderson, Craig A.; Gentile, Douglas A.
  Psychology of Violence. January 18, 2016
  Objective: Two studies were conducted to (re)examine whether the strength differential hypothesis—that face-to-face bullies are likely to be physically stronger than victims—is valid in the cyberbullying domain. The novel contribution of our research includes testing the relations between the belief that strength is irrelevant for online bullying, online power (technological abilities), and cyberbullying within the theoretical integration of the Barlett and Gentile cyberbullying model and Bandura’s self-efficacy theory. Method: Two studies had participant’s complete measures of cyberbullying behavior, cyberbullying attitudes, online power, and the belief that strength is irrelevant for online bullying. Study 1 (N = 147) utilized a cross-sectional design with a general adult population, whereas Study 2 (N = 218) employed a short-term longitudinal study of college students. Results: Correlation and regression findings from Study 1 showed that (a) the belief that muscularity is irrelevant for online bullying (but not online power) was associated with more cyberbullying, and (b) this relation was mediated by cyberbullying attitudes. Study 2 replicated these results using a longitudinal path analysis. Conclusion: The current research supports the postulates of the BGCM by confirming the theoretically predicted relations between the belief that muscularity is irrelevant in the online world and cyberbullying behavior through the development of cyberbullying attitudes. Online power, in the form of computer skill, did not show this pattern, suggesting that perceptions of physical strength are more relevant even in the online world, supporting the original strength differential hypothesis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 18, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000032   open full text
• Individual differences in parents’ impressions of children and child physical abuse: A meta-analysis.
  McCarthy, Randy J.; Wagner, Michael F.; Basham, Ariel; Jones, Caicina.
  Psychology of Violence. January 14, 2016
  Objectives: It is hypothesized that parents who have physically abused a child or who are at high risk to physically abuse a child form more negative/less positive impressions about children than nonabusive/low-risk-for-abuse parents. However, to date, the overall evidence from the several individual studies testing this hypothesis has been inconclusive. Method: The current meta-analysis compared the impressions that abusive/high-risk-for-abuse parents and nonabusive/low-risk-for-abuse parents form about children (k = 27, N = 1,645). Results: Overall, we estimated the difference in parents’ impressions of children to be about 1/3 of 1 standard deviation in the hypothesized direction (d = 0.32, 95% confidence interval [0.19, 0.44]). This difference was found among studies using a variety of procedures and a variety of dependent variables. Further, an analysis of the distribution of p values from the published studies corroborated this finding. Conclusions: Collectively, the current meta-analysis confirms differences between abusive/high-risk-for-abuse parents’ and nonabusive/low-risk-for-abuse parents’ impressions of children. However, despite the clear evidence for the existence of an effect, the current results suggest the magnitude of this effect is modest. Future research should determine whether parents’ impressions are meaningfully related to parents’ child-directed behaviors. Such research would be informative as to whether parents’ impressions of children should be targeted in interventions aimed at reducing physically abusive parenting behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 14, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000028   open full text
• What limits the effectiveness of antibullying programs? A thematic analysis of the perspective of students.
  Cunningham, Charles E.; Mapp, Cailin; Rimas, Heather; Cunningham, Lesley; Mielko, Stephanie; Vaillancourt, Tracy; Marcus, Madalyn.
  Psychology of Violence. January 14, 2016
  Objective: We used qualitative methods to explore the views of students regarding design and implementation factors limiting the effectiveness of the antibullying programs. Method: Using a purposeful strategy, we recruited 97 Grades 5 to 8 students from 12 demographically stratified schools. Interviewers conducted thirteen 45-min focus groups. Audio recordings were transcribed and coded thematically. Results: Three higher order themes emerged. First, students felt that antibullying presentations, posters, and activities sometimes failed to engage students. Antibullying communications that were boring, repetitive, negatively worded, or delivered by presenters lacking credibility were of limited value. Second, students felt that ineffective monitoring and consequences undermined antibullying programs. Students thought teachers failed to detect many bullying episodes, did not respond quickly enough when bullying was reported, adopted ineffective consequences, and failed to sustain helpful programs. Teachers who responded unfairly, were influenced by reputational biases, or dealt with students disrespectfully compromised antibullying interventions. Third, some students disengaged and pushed back by failing to attend to presentations, denying their involvement in bullying, discrediting programs and speakers, disrupting antibullying activities, and defiantly victimizing peers. Conclusions: Poor design and implementation may limit the outcome of antibullying programs. Pushback from a small group of students may have a negative influence on the responses of a wider group of peers. A negative response from students may reduce the commitment of the educators who implement antibullying initiatives. From the perspective of students, schools need to develop more engaging presentations, improve monitoring and supervision, develop more effective responses to bullying, and deal with students in an unbiased and respectful way. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 14, 2016   doi: 10.1037/a0039984   open full text
• Poly-victimization and its relationship with emotional and social adjustment in adolescence: Evidence from a national survey in Switzerland.
  Lätsch, David C.; Nett, Jachen C.; Hümbelin, Oliver.
  Psychology of Violence. January 14, 2016
  Objective: The present study investigates, for the first time in a wealthy country of Central Europe, the prevalence of poly-victimization (exposure to multiple forms of victimization within the past year) in an adolescent population. It further examines associations between single victimization types (such as sexual or physical assaults) with emotional and social functioning when poly-victimization is controlled for. Method: Data from a large and near-representative national school survey in Switzerland (N = 6,749, 52.2% male, M age = 15.5 years) were examined using descriptive and multiple regression analysis. Results: When poly-victimization was controlled for, individual victimization types showed largely diminished association with emotional and social functioning measures. Particularly weak associations were found for physical and sexual victimizations. By contrast, emotional assaults (including emotional bullying by peers and emotional abuse by parents) and maltreatment by parents retained the strongest links with levels of functioning. This general pattern of results held even when chronic individual victimization types were considered. Conclusions: Many previous studies may have underestimated adolescents’ capacities to cope with physical and sexual victimizations where these experiences happen in an otherwise functional environment. Meanwhile, concurrent exposure to multiple kinds of victimization serves as a strong indicator of declined emotional and social functioning. Taken together, the findings embolden practitioners in general to avoid the pitfalls of overspecialization and to promote holistic treatment approaches toward adolescent victims of violence. In the Swiss context, professionals working with vulnerable children and youth may feel encouraged to overcome the fragmentarization of services that currently characterizes the children and youth welfare system in this country. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 14, 2016   doi: 10.1037/a0039993   open full text
• Narrative writing exercises for promoting health among adolescents: Promises and pitfalls.
  Taylor, Elizabeth; Jouriles, Ernest N.; Brown, Rachel; Goforth, Katie; Banyard, Victoria.
  Psychology of Violence. January 11, 2016
  Objective: The purpose of this commentary is to summarize potential benefits and issues in the use of narrative writing exercises with adolescents. Tips for implementing narratives as a health promotion and prevention strategy in schools and other types of therapeutic settings are also presented. Key Points: Narrative writing exercises have consistently demonstrated positive results at the universal prevention, targeted prevention, and intervention levels. Researchers have theorized that narratives are effective as they help individual’s process thoughts and emotions surrounding adverse events, and are a way to promote positive thoughts about the self and broader ways of thinking. The Laws of Life essay program is an example of an established narrative program that is used nationally in school settings. We present hands-on information and recommendations as to the how to implement a narrative program and cautions to consider. Conclusions: Evaluations of narrative writing exercises have yielded many positive findings, but many important questions remain. It appears that narratives potentially help those at risk for violence or troubling behaviors, but more research in the context of the violence field is needed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 11, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000023   open full text
• Talking about it: Stories as paths to healing after violence.
  Pasupathi, Monisha; Fivush, Robyn; Hernandez-Martinez, Martha.
  Psychology of Violence. January 11, 2016
  Objectives: This commentary had 3 main objectives: to introduce the idea of intersecting narratives in the context of violence; to outline some research-based considerations about how narratives might play a role in the aftermath of violence; and to do so using a format that reflects intersecting narratives. Method: We review findings from research across multiple disciplines interwoven with practice related experience and personal experiences. Results: Narratives intersect at multiple levels, from within the same individual to across different cultures and nations. Negotiating conflicting narratives across those intersections may be key for moving forward after violence. Using narratives in this way requires maintaining a complex story, one that includes potentially irreconcilable perspectives. This requires creating contexts for negotiating that complex story. Conclusions: Consideration of stories and the way they intersect has the potential to inform research and practice, and to transform individual and collective experiences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 11, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000017   open full text
• Key roles of community connectedness in healing from trauma.
  Schultz, Katie; Cattaneo, Lauren B.; Sabina, Chiara; Brunner, Lisa; Jackson, Sabeth; Serrata, Josephine V.
  Psychology of Violence. January 11, 2016
  Objective: Connection to community has been identified as a protective factor in the experience of trauma, but many interventions have acted inadvertently to ignore or not account for the potential for disruption to connections within communities. We examine the role of community connectedness in relation to healing from individual and community experiences of trauma, drawing from culturally specific interventions that give a central role to connection. Key Points: Connection to community matters for those who have experienced trauma, yet many interventions do not build on or in some cases disrupt positive connections to community. This commentary examines Latino and American Indian/Alaska Native communities for examples of this disruption and how those communities have responded with culturally specific interventions to increase community connections. The mechanisms through which community connectedness operates in these examples include accountability, community norming, and belonging and identity. Conclusions: Researchers and practitioners must consider how interventions impact community connectedness, and increasing capacity for connection should be targeted in healing efforts. We suggest more theorizing on the mechanisms that potentially enable community connectedness to buffer the effects of trauma and implications for intervention. Community-informed efforts have the potential to be more effective and sustainable in reducing the impact of trauma on families and societies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 11, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000025   open full text
• Beyond resilience: Why we need to look at systems too.
  Shaw, Jessica; McLean, Kate C.; Taylor, Bruce; Swartout, Kevin; Querna, Katie.
  Psychology of Violence. January 11, 2016
  Objective: Stories of resilience abound in American culture, and many social scientists have dedicated their programs of research to understanding what engenders resilience and developing interventions to promote it. However, too often our discussions on resilience limit it to something within the individual, effectively placing all responsibility for overcoming adversity on that individual. In this commentary, we caution against designing resilience research that fails to attend to system-level variables and how this approach can inadvertently reinforce the social circumstances it intends to help individuals overcome. Key Takeaways: The construct of resilience is multifaceted and multilevel, yet the majority of resilience research in the field of psychology operates at the individual-level of analysis. Several theories, approaches, and methods can aid resilience researchers in becoming more ecological. Conclusion: Through a renewed commitment to multiplicity in our research, we can better meet the needs of our communities and promote success. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 11, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000020   open full text
• Bridging the gap between research and practice by strengthening academic-community partnerships for violence research.
  Yuan, Nicole P.; Gaines, Tommi L.; Jones, Lisa M.; Rodriguez, Lindsey M.; Hamilton, Nicky; Kinnish, Kelly.
  Psychology of Violence. January 11, 2016
  Objectives: This commentary seeks to highlight the benefits of community-based participatory research (CBPR) and promote its use in the violence field. Community perspectives remain underrepresented in the CBPR literature despite the emphasis on equitable partnerships and shared ownership in the research process. Method: Informal interviews were conducted with 10 community partners to understand their perspectives on using and participating in research. Results: Several recommendations for strengthening academic-community research partnerships emerged from the community partners’ responses. They were: (a) conduct research that is useful to communities, with a focus on evidence-based practices and cost-benefit analyses; (b) involve community partners early in the development of research questions to ensure that local needs are addressed; (c) engage in frequent and open communication and maintain transparency about research goals and roles and responsibilities of each partner; (d) provide benefits to communities during the research process to promote professional development and build capacity; and (e) disseminate findings quickly, using outlets accessible to communities, and translate into strategies for practice. Conclusion: Although the recommendations require significant investments of time and resources by all partners, use of CBPR can contribute to increased development of innovative and sustainable violence prevention programs, services, and policies that are uniquely informed by scientific evidence and community expertise. By emphasizing partnerships with communities, CBPR helps to reduce the gap between research and practice and facilitates the inclusion of community strengths and resilience as valuable components of violence prevention and intervention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 11, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000026   open full text
• Preventing violence in context: The importance of culture for implementing systemic change.
  Chan, Wing Yi; Hollingsworth, Mary Ann; Espelage, Dorothy L.; Mitchell, Kimberly J.
  Psychology of Violence. January 11, 2016
  Objective: To address the complexity of violence in the homes, schools, and neighborhoods of individuals, we need to shift our level of analysis from individuals to collectives and we need to direct research to prevention efforts. Thus, we argue for an ecological approach that emphasizes the influence of the collective systems (e.g., culture) and focuses on the interconnectedness between individual health and collective well-being. Key Points: Research on violence prevention has found strong evidence to suggest the importance of the family, peers, school, and neighborhood systems in reducing violent behaviors among children and adolescents (see Huston & Bentley, 2010 for a review). However, the impact of the cultural system is, in comparison, lesser known. As such, we need a theoretical framework that emphasizes culture as an important mechanism for change. In this paper, we will first briefly identify gaps in Bronfenbrenner’s (1979, 1994) ecological systems theory, one of the most widely used frameworks to understand violence in context. Next, we will describe a community-based ecological approach (Kelly, 1968; Trickett, Kelly, & Vincent, 1983) and illustrate how such an approach with an emphasis on the cultural system builds upon and expands Bronfenbrenner’s model of contextual influences on violence prevention. Conclusion: Finally, we will provide a few examples of prevention that are consistent with the community-based ecological approach. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 11, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000021   open full text
• Building on youth’s strengths: A call to include adolescents in developing, implementing, and evaluating violence prevention programs.
  Edwards, Katie M.; Jones, Lisa M.; Mitchell, Kimberly J.; Hagler, Matthew A.; Roberts, Lindsey T.
  Psychology of Violence. January 11, 2016
  Objective: To review the challenges and potential benefits of involving adolescents in the development and delivery of prevention programming. Key Points and Implications: Adolescent violence prevention programs are typically designed and delivered by adults in school-based settings. However, research has highlighted a number of problems with the effectiveness and sustainability of adult-designed prevention models. In this commentary, we consider the possibility that program effectiveness might be improved if innovative, evidence-based prevention strategies could be developed to help guide adolescents in developing and delivering prevention materials themselves. To inform our discussion, we surveyed 14 adolescent peer leaders about their experiences developing and delivering violence prevention in their schools and communities. Using their input, we critically review the limitations of adult-delivered prevention, discuss the potential benefits and challenges of involving adolescents in designing and delivering violence prevention content, and suggest a number of future directions for researchers and program developers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 11, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000022   open full text
• Seven reasons to invest in well-being.
  Howell, Kathryn H.; Coffey, John K.; Fosco, Gregory M.; Kracke, Kristen; Nelson, S. Katherine; Rothman, Emily F.; Grych, John H.
  Psychology of Violence. January 11, 2016
  Objective: This commentary reviews current conceptualizations of well-being, examines explanations for the lack of attention to well-being research, and provides justification for investing research time and funding into well-being studies. Opportunities for integrating factors related to well-being into prevention and intervention programs are also outlined. Key Points: Well-being may motivate people toward success, improve health and longevity, strengthen relationships, and boost the economy. Well-being can be enhanced in easy and inexpensive ways by incorporating facets of well-being into already-existing individual and systems-level intervention or prevention programs. Implications: Future research into this important construct should focus on objective means to assess and predict well-being, as well as strategies to enhance well-being across the life span. Investing more research time and financial resources into the study and promotion of well-being has the potential to lead to profound and enduring benefits to individuals, communities, and the larger society. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 11, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000019   open full text
• Strengths, narrative, and resilience: Restorying resilience research.
  Hamby, Sherry; Banyard, Victoria; Grych, John.
  Psychology of Violence. January 11, 2016
  Objective: To envision a path toward a more strengths-based approach to violence research, prevention, and intervention—a path that focuses on thriving and resilience. Key Points: Both the content and the process of research need to change if we are to transform our efforts to understand and overcome adversity. Greater focus on strengths and the achievement of well-being despite adversity is 1 important avenue; focusing on the narrative and the power of story is another important path. However, merely shifting the focus of traditional research and scholarly efforts is not enough. At another level of analysis, the field needs communication across the fragmentary subdisciplines of social science (“silo busting,” as we informally call it). We must also do more to encourage experimentation and innovation with regard to research question and design, community–practitioner–researcher partnership, and approaches to dissemination. Implications: Existing challenges in innovation and experimentation call for trying new approaches. Specific suggestions for adapting conference formats are provided. The commentaries in this special section offer feasible actions that could improve violence research, including incorporating measures of well-being in addition to symptoms as outcome measures; involving a wider variety of stakeholders in research design and dissemination; taking advantage of new insights from positive psychology and narrative research; and incorporating aspects of community and culture into research, assessment, prevention and intervention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 11, 2016   doi: 10.1037/vio0000027   open full text
• The mediating role of perceived safety on street harassment and anxiety.
  Davidson, M. Meghan; Butchko, Michael S.; Robbins, Krista; Sherd, Lindsey W.; Gervais, Sarah J.
  Psychology of Violence. January 11, 2016
  Objective: Despite the high prevalence rates of street harassment for women, few studies have examined negative outcomes of this distressing experience. The current study aimed to further this area of inquiry by investigating potential consequences of street harassment, including perceptions of safety and anxiety among college women. Specifically, this study introduced and tested a mediation model in which women’s experiences of street harassment may lead to less perceived safety in public spaces, specifically isolated and busy public spaces, which in turn may lead to more anxiety. Method: To examine the model, undergraduate women (N = 501) completed measures of street harassment, perceived safety, and general anxiety. Results: Most participants (57–88%) reported experiencing verbal street harassment whereas 11–33% reported experiencing sexual forms of street harassment. Significant correlations emerged among street harassment, safety perceptions in busy and isolated public settings, and anxiety. Consistent with the model, safety perceptions in isolated public settings emerged as a significant mediator of the relation between street harassment and anxiety. Conclusion: This study begins to fill important gaps in the current literature related to mental health and psychological outcomes of street harassment. Specifically, street harassment is shown to promote safety concerns and anxiety more generally among college women. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 11, 2016   doi: 10.1037/a0039970   open full text
• Intimate partner physical injury risk assessment in a military sample.
  Stith, Sandra M.; Milner, Joel S.; Fleming, Matthew; Robichaux, Renè J.; Travis, Wendy J.
  Psychology of Violence. December 14, 2015
  Objectives: This paper describes the development of an actuarial risk assessment instrument (the Intimate Partner Physical Injury-Risk Assessment Tool; IPPI-RAT) designed to be used by military providers to assess the likelihood that an individual who has had an alleged incident of intimate partner violence (IPV) will have a subsequent incident resulting in a physical injury to the victim. Method: Providers used a 58-item structured risk assessment tool to assess individuals with alleged IPV incidents (N = 199). Across a 6-month period, alleged victims were asked to call an automated telephone system to report subsequent incidents of IPV and physical injury (N = 1,082 calls). An item analysis was used to select the items that significantly differentiated the “physical injury” group from the “other” group (i.e., comparison group). Results: Fifteen items from the 58-item tool significantly predicted future physical injury and were used to create a 15-item IPPI-RAT scale. The area under the curve (Area Under the Receiver Operator Curve, AUC) value for the tool was .78, 95% CI [.71, .86]. This AUC value indicates there is a 78% chance that a randomly selected member of the physical injury group would have a higher risk score than a randomly selected member of the “other” (i.e., comparison) group. Conclusions: Findings support the tool’s utility for assessing risk for future physical injury as part of a comprehensive IPV risk assessment in reported IPV incidents in the military. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  December 14, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039969   open full text
• Justifying sexual assault: Anonymous perpetrators speak out online.
  Hipp, Tracy N.; Bellis, Alexandra L.; Goodnight, Bradley L.; Brennan, Carolyn L.; Swartout, Kevin M.; Cook, Sarah L.
  Psychology of Violence. December 14, 2015
  Objective: Researchers rarely have an opportunity to study first-person narratives of sexual assault perpetration. Because of a prompt anonymously posted to a popular online community, we were able to examine perpetrators’ own descriptions of, and justifications for, sexual assault. Method: Thematic analysis was conducted on a sample of 68 anonymous first-person accounts of sexual assault perpetration collected from Reddit.com. Results: Themes focus on sexual scripts, victim blame, hostile sexism, biological essentialism, objectification, and sociosexuality. Relationships among these themes are described. Conclusion: We contextualize our findings in the empirical literature on sexual assault and in earlier related feminist theory. Our goal is to use these novel data to further inform research and prevention efforts, making recommendations for policy and clinical efforts such as clinical intervention with perpetrators to decrease cognitive distortions of blame. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

  December 14, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039998   open full text
• Cognitive Trauma Therapy for Battered Women: Replication and extension.
  Beck, J. Gayle; Tran, Han N.; Dodson, Thomas S.; Henschel, Aisling V.; Woodward, Matthew J.; Eddinger, Jasmine.
  Psychology of Violence. December 07, 2015
  Objective: To replicate and extend findings from a previous controlled trial of Cognitive Trauma Therapy for Battered Women (CTT-BW; Kubany et al., 2004), the current study presents data on the treatment of 8 women with PTSD related to intimate partner violence (IPV). Method: CTT-BW was administered weekly, using the manual provided by Kubany and a multiple baseline across participants design. Participants were assessed for PTSD and depression, as well as secondary outcomes. Results: Significant decreases from pre- to posttreatment were noted in PTSD (Hedges g = 1.90) and depression (Hedges g = 1.52), the primary outcomes. Obtained effect sizes for PTSD and depression can be classified as large. Anxiety, self-esteem, and quality of life improved significantly during the pre- to posttreatment interval. Conclusions: Results are discussed in light of treatment needs for women with PTSD related to IPV and the potential for CTT-BW to be used in diverse settings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  December 07, 2015   doi: 10.1037/vio0000024   open full text
• Do alcohol and marijuana increase the risk for female dating violence victimization? A prospective daily diary investigation.
  Shorey, Ryan C.; Moore, Todd M.; McNulty, James K.; Stuart, Gregory L.
  Psychology of Violence. December 07, 2015
  Objective: Dating violence is a serious and prevalent problem, with females being victimized by partners at high rates with numerous negative health consequences. Previous research has been equivocal on whether substance use on the part of the victim temporally precedes and, thus, increases the odds of victimization. Although the sole responsibility for violence is always with the perpetrator, knowing this information could provide useful information for theory as well as interventions designed to keep women safe. Method: Participants were female college students in a current dating relationship who had consumed alcohol in the previous month (N = 173). Students completed daily surveys on their violence victimization, alcohol use, and marijuana use for up to 90 consecutive days. Results: On any drinking days, heavy drinking days, and as the number of alcoholic drinks consumed increased, women were more likely to be victimized by psychological, physical, and sexual dating violence. Marijuana use also preceded and increased the odds of sexual victimization. Relationship length moderated some of these temporal associations, such that the odds of victimization on a drinking day, or marijuana use day, were increased for participants in longer relationships. Conclusions: Findings underscore the importance of considering the role that alcohol and marijuana use play in increasing the risk for dating violence victimization among women. Intervention programs for dating violence may benefit by attempting to decrease substance use to reduce risk for female victims. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  December 07, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039943   open full text
• Advancing our approach to teen dating violence: A youth and professional defined framework of teen dating relationships.
  Goldman, Alyssa W.; Mulford, Carrie F.; Blachman-Demner, Dara R.
  Psychology of Violence. November 16, 2015
  Objective: Little research has considered how well assumptions about teen dating relationships that guide teen dating violence (TDV) work actually align with youth perspective and experience. This study aimed to better understand areas of convergence and divergence in how youth and adult professionals conceptualize and define teen dating relationships to more fully inform TDV research, programming, and policy. Method: Concept mapping—an inductive, participatory approach—was used to capture, compare, and visually represent perspectives of teen dating relationships across samples of teens ages 14 to 18 (N = 147), young adults ages 19 to 22 (N = 81), and adult professionals (N = 76). Researchers conducted subsequent facilitated discussions with these 3 groups. Results: A single concept map coauthored by youth and professionals described teen dating relationships using 100 ideas, 9 higher-order constructs, and 2 conceptual dimensions. Across groups, substantial agreement emerged on the characteristics of teen dating and their interrelationships. Participants conceptualized dating relationships as multidimensional, consisting of a range of behaviors, emotions, and cognitions that vary in their frequency and desirability. Relationships were also characterized by temporally oriented phases that can shape teens’ perceptions of their dating experiences. Conclusion: The findings suggest that professionals are studying TDV and developing related programming from a conceptual basis that comports with youth dating experience. Nevertheless, the complexity of teen dating presents a need for researchers and practitioners to expand their focus to more effectively address the social and behavioral processes through which TDV unfolds. Efforts should more holistically consider relevant aspects of dating relationships, including the confluence of healthy and unhealthy characteristics with emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  November 16, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039849   open full text
• Sleep disruption and aggression: Implications for violence and its prevention.
  Krizan, Zlatan; Herlache, Anne D.
  Psychology of Violence. November 09, 2015
  Objective: Although aggression and violence remain a perennial social problem, the role that sleep-wake regulation plays in social behavior like aggression has been severely neglected. In response, we aim to integrate cross-disciplinary evidence to suggest that various forms of sleep disruption release aggressive impulses and fuel violence. Method: In a narrative review, we outline 3 pathways of influence from sleep disruption to aggression that involve compromised affective, cognitive, and response-control processes. We also consider the reciprocal influences between sleep disruption and aggression, as well as review 3 domains where sleep disruption may have especially important effects on aggression and violence and provide opportunities for intervention. Results: The review reveals that sleep problems may be important contributors to aggression, especially in the domains involving intimate partner violence, school and cyber bullying, and institutional aggression within psychiatric and correctional institutions. Conclusion: Reviewed evidence has essential theoretical and applied importance for understanding and preventing conflict and violence in society. Finally, it calls for much-needed research targeting the role of sleep in aggression and social behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  November 09, 2015   doi: 10.1037/vio0000018   open full text
• Enhancing the accuracy of men’s perceptions of women’s sexual interest in the laboratory.
  Treat, Teresa A.; Viken, Richard J.; Farris, Coreen A.; Smith, Jodi R.
  Psychology of Violence. November 09, 2015
  Objective: We evaluate a novel feedback-based procedure designed to enhance the accuracy of men’s judgments of women’s sexual interest in the laboratory, as misperception of sexual interest is implicated in male-initiated sexual aggression toward acquaintances. Method: In an initial rating task, 183 undergraduate males judged the sexual interest of women in full-body photographs; the women varied along sexual interest, clothing style, and attractiveness dimensions. Half of the participants received feedback on their ratings. In a related transfer task, participants indicated whether women in photographs would respond positively to a sexual advance. History of sexual aggression and rape-supportive attitudes were assessed. Results: Participants relied substantially on both affective and nonaffective cues when judging women’s sexual interest. High-risk men relied less on affect and more on attractiveness. Feedback enhanced focus on women’s affective cues and decreased focus on nonaffective cues for both low-risk and high-risk men. Feedback affected transfer performance indirectly, via altered cue usage in the training task. Conclusions: The current work documents high-risk men’s altered focus on women’s affective and nonaffective cues and provides encouraging support for the potential use of a cognitive-training paradigm to enhance men’s perceptions of women’s sexual-interest cues, albeit to a lesser degree for high-risk men. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  November 09, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039845   open full text
• Development and validation of a video measure for assessing women’s risk perception for alcohol-related sexual assault.
  Parks, Kathleen A.; Levonyan-Radloff, Kristine; Dearing, Ronda L.; Hequembourg, Amy; Testa, Maria.
  Psychology of Violence. November 09, 2015
  Objective: Using an iterative process, a series of 3 video scenarios was developed for use as a standardized measure for assessing women’s perception of risks for alcohol-related sexual assault (SA). The videos included ambiguous and clear behavioral and environmental risk cues. Method: Focus group discussions with young, female heavy drinkers (N = 42) were used to develop 3 videos at different risk levels (low, moderate, and high) in Study 1. Realism, reliability, and validity of the videos were assessed using multiple methods in Studies 2 and 3. One hundred four women were used to compare differences in risk perception across the video risk level in Study 2. In Study 3 (N = 60), we assessed women’s perceptions of the low and high risk videos under conditions of no alcohol and alcohol. Results: The realism and reliability of the videos were good. Women who viewed the low risk video compared with women who viewed the moderate and high risk videos perceived less risk for SA. We found an interaction between alcohol and risk perception such that, women in the alcohol condition were less likely to perceive risk when watching the high risk video. Conclusions: As the video risk level increased, women’s perception of risk increased. These findings provide convergent evidence for the validity of the video measure. Given the limited number of standardized scenarios for assessing risk perception for sexual assault, our findings suggest that these videos may provide a needed standardized measure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  November 09, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039846   open full text
• TakeCARE, a video bystander program to help prevent sexual violence on college campuses: Results of two randomized, controlled trials.
  Jouriles, Ernest N.; McDonald, Renee; Rosenfield, David; Levy, Nicole; Sargent, Kelli; Caiozzo, Christina; Grych, John H.
  Psychology of Violence. November 02, 2015
  Objective: The present research reports on 2 randomized, controlled trials evaluating TakeCARE, a video bystander program designed to help prevent sexual violence on college campuses. Method: In Study 1, students were recruited from psychology courses at 2 universities. In Study 2, first-year students were recruited from a required course at 1 university. In both studies, students were randomly assigned to view 1 of 2 videos: TakeCARE or a control video on study skills. Just before viewing the videos, students completed measures of bystander behavior toward friends and ratings of self-efficacy for performing such behaviors. The efficacy measure was administered again after the video, and both the bystander behavior measure and the efficacy measure were administered at either 1 (Study 1) or 2 (Study 2) months later. Results: In both studies, students who viewed TakeCARE, compared with students who viewed the control video, reported engaging in more bystander behavior toward friends and greater feelings of efficacy for performing such behavior. In Study 1, feelings of efficacy mediated effects of TakeCARE on bystander behavior; this result did not emerge in Study 2. Conclusions: This research demonstrates that TakeCARE, a video bystander program, can positively influence bystander behavior toward friends. Given its potential to be easily distributed to an entire campus community, TakeCARE might be an effective addition to campus efforts to prevent sexual violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  November 02, 2015   doi: 10.1037/vio0000016   open full text
• Friend to friend: A randomized trial for urban African American relationally aggressive girls.
  Leff, Stephen S.; Paskewich, Brooke S.; Waasdorp, Tracy Evian; Waanders, Christine; Bevans, Katherine B.; Jawad, Abbas F.
  Psychology of Violence. October 05, 2015
  Objective: To determine the effectiveness of the Friend to Friend (F2F) aggression prevention program through a clinical trial with urban African American girls. Method: A randomized parallel-group study design was conducted comparing the effectiveness of F2F to an attention control condition (called Homework, Study Skills, and Organization, HSO) among relationally aggressive girls from 6 urban low-income elementary schools. Analyses of covariance were utilized for comparing posttest measurements from the 2 conditions while adjusting for pretest measurements. To further explore program outcomes, we examined whether the significant intervention effects were maintained from posttest to follow-up among girls in the F2F group. Results: Results suggest that aggressive girls in F2F decreased their levels of relational aggression and increased their knowledge of social problem solving skills in comparison with similar girls randomized to HSO. Each of these findings was maintained at the 1-year follow-up. Conclusion: The F2F Program, a culturally adapted group intervention addressing multiple forms of aggression, appears to have promise for decreasing relational aggression and improving knowledge of problem solving skills for urban high risk aggressive girls, with results that are maintained 1 year after treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 05, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039724   open full text
• Examining the link between peer victimization and adjustment problems in adolescents: The role of connectedness and parent engagement.
  Morin, Hillary K.; Bradshaw, Catherine P.; Berg, Juliette K.
  Psychology of Violence. October 05, 2015
  Objective: Several studies have documented a range of adjustment problems experienced by peer victimized adolescents, however there has been less research exploring potential sources of support that may offset the negative impact of victimization. The current study explored the association among peer victimization, adjustment problems, connectedness, and parent engagement with the goal of identifying buffers of the associations between physical and relational victimization and adolescents’ adjustment problems. Method: Students’ (N = 28,104) from 58 high schools self-reported experiences of peer victimization. Self-report measures also assessed connectedness (student connectedness, teacher connectedness), parent engagement, and adjustment problems (internalizing problems, sleep problems, stress problems). Results: Regression analyses indicated that both forms of victimization were associated with adjustment problems across all grades, genders, and races. Interpersonal connectedness was associated with fewer adjustment problems. Despite several statistically significant interactions involving victimization and connection, only 2 interactions demonstrated buffering effects. Specifically, student connectedness was found to attenuate internalizing problems among relationally victimized girls, whereas parent engagement was associated with reduced internalizing problems among relationally victimized boys. Conclusions: Study findings highlight the potential protective influences of connection and parent engagement in the transactional relationship between victimization and adjustment problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 05, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039798   open full text
• The quantity and variety across domains of psychological and social assets associated with school victimization.
  Lenzi, Michela; Furlong, Michael J.; Dowdy, Erin; Sharkey, Jill; Gini, Gianluca; Altoè, Gianmarco.
  Psychology of Violence. October 05, 2015
  Objective: Studies on protective factors for school victimization are rare and usually focus on specific assets. The current study examined the association between quantity and variety of domains of developmental assets and school victimization in adolescence. Method: Data were drawn from the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS; N = 11,790 high school students attending 17 schools). The Social and Emotional Health Survey–Secondary (SEHS-S) was administered as part of a federally funded school climate initiative in the spring of 2013. A mixed-effects modeling approach tested associations between configurations of assets and school victimization. Results: Adolescents reporting a higher quantity of assets in multiple domains had a lower likelihood of experiencing physical and relational victimization and fear of being victimized in school compared to youth having zero assets. Conclusions: Results supported the importance of considering the quantity of psychological and social assets and also the variety of assets across multiple domains. Interventions promoting multiple protective factors in multiple areas of youths’ lives may have the highest likelihood of impacting adolescent well-being. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 05, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039696   open full text
• Moving toward well-being: The role of protective factors in violence research.
  Sabina, Chiara; Banyard, Victoria.
  Psychology of Violence. October 05, 2015
  Research on violence has focused on risk factors and the negative consequences of victimization, often overlooking indicators of healthy functioning. Nonetheless, it is equally important to understand factors that may protect against experiencing victimization and that help build resilience across the life span once victimization has occurred. In this introduction to the special issue on protective factors, resilience, and violence, we consider how well the field of violence is actualizing the potential and promise of the science of resilience to move forward violence research, prevention, and intervention. Specifically, we review definitions of resilience and protective factors, outline how resilience science can enhance violence research and vice versa, and highlight ways in which research in this area can be expanded and improved. Then, we introduce the articles that follow in this special issue that take some important steps toward advancing our understanding of resilience. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 05, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039686   open full text
• Cortisol reactions during family conflict discussions: Influences of wives’ and husbands’ exposure to family-of-origin aggression.
  Arbel, Reout; Rodriguez, Aubrey J.; Margolin, Gayla.
  Psychology of Violence. September 07, 2015
  Objective: Though family of-origin aggression (FOA) is a known risk for later emotional and physical problems in adulthood, little is known about how early exposure to aggression influences physiological reactivity in the domain-specific context of family conflict experienced as an adult. This study investigates whether report of FOA influences spouses’ hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responses during conflict discussions with their family of-procreation and also whether current hostilities, observed during a family discussion, moderate those responses. Method: In a sample of 91 families, we measured parents’ HPA responses through salivary cortisol total output and discussion-related increase surrounding 15-min hot-topic discussions that trained observers coded for family members’ hostility. Partners’ also reported on 8 items assessing parent-to-child and interparental FOA. Results: In models testing within-partner and across-partner influences, wives’ higher FOA was linked with increases in their own and their husbands’ cortisol. Spouses’ own FOA showed significant interactions with the partners’ hostility to affect total cortisol output, although in an attenuated direction for wives and a heightened direction for husbands. Conclusion: The results suggest that HPA responsiveness can elucidate links between family of-origin experiences and adult intimate relationships and may be a factor in risk and resilience over time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  September 07, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039715   open full text
• Polyvictimization: Latent profiles and mental health outcomes in a clinical sample of adolescents.
  Adams, Zachary W.; Moreland, Angela; Cohen, Joseph R.; Lee, Robert C.; Hanson, Rochelle F.; Danielson, Carla Kmett; Self-Brown, Shannon; Briggs, Ernestine C.
  Psychology of Violence. September 07, 2015
  Objective: Exposure to multiple traumatic events (polyvictimization) is a reliable predictor of deleterious health outcomes and risk behaviors in adolescence. The current study extends the literature on the prevalence and consequences of adolescent trauma exposure by (a) empirically identifying and characterizing trauma exposure profiles in a large, ethnically diverse, multisite, clinical sample of adolescents, and (b) evaluating relations among identified profiles with demographic characteristics and clinical correlates. Method: Data from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Core Data Set were used to identify and characterize victimization profiles using latent class analysis in a sample of 3,485 adolescents (ages 13–18, 63% female, 35.7% White, 23.2% Black/African American, 35.0% Hispanic/Latino). Multiple measures of psychological distress and risk behaviors were evaluated as covariates of trauma exposure classes. Results: Five trauma exposure classes, or profiles, were identified. Four classes—representing approximately half the sample—were characterized by polyvictimization. Polyvictimization classes were differentiated on number of trauma types, whether emotional abuse occurred, and whether emotional abuse occurred over single or multiple developmental epochs. Unique relations with demographic characteristics and mental health outcomes were observed. Discussion: Results suggest polyvictimization is not a unidimensional phenomenon but a diverse set of trauma exposure experiences with unique correlates among youth. Further research on prevention of polyvictimization and mechanisms linking chronic trauma exposure, gender, and ethnicity to negative outcomes is warranted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  September 07, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039713   open full text
• Developmental trajectories of peer-reported aggressive behavior: The role of friendship understanding, friendship quality, and friends’ aggressive behavior.
  Malti, Tina; McDonald, Kristina; Rubin, Kenneth H.; Rose-Krasnor, Linda; Booth-LaForce, Cathryn.
  Psychology of Violence. September 07, 2015
  Objective: To investigate developmental trajectories in peer-reported aggressive behavior across the transition from elementary-to-middle school, and whether aggressive behavior trajectories were associated with friendship quality, friends’ aggressive behavior, and the ways in which children think about their friendships. Method: Participants included a community sample of 230 5th grade children who were assessed when they made a transition from elementary-to-middle school (6th grade). Peer nominations were used to assess the target child’s and friend’s aggressive behavior. Self- and friend-reports were used to measure friendship quality; friendship understanding was assessed via a structured interview. Results: General Growth Mixture Modeling (GGMM) revealed 3 distinct trajectories of peer-reported aggressive behavior across the school transition: low-stable, decreasing, and increasing. Adolescents’ understanding of friendship formation differentiated the decreasing from the low-stable aggressive behavior trajectories, and the understanding of friendship trust differentiated the increasing from the low-stable aggressive and decreasing aggressive behavior trajectories. Conclusions: The findings indicated that a sophisticated understanding of friendship may serve as a protective factor for initially aggressive adolescents as they transition into middle school. Promoting a deepened understanding of friendship relations and their role in one’s own and others’ well-being may serve as an important prevention and intervention strategy to reduce aggressive behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  September 07, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039685   open full text
• The resilience portfolio model: Understanding healthy adaptation in victims of violence.
  Grych, John; Hamby, Sherry; Banyard, Victoria.
  Psychology of Violence. August 24, 2015
  Objective: Exposure to diverse forms of interpersonal violence is associated with a wide range of psychological problems in children and adults. However, many people who experience violence do not develop symptoms of psychopathology. Studies of resilience in victims of violence have identified protective factors associated with healthier outcomes but have a number of limitations for understanding how individuals exposed to violence adapt and even thrive. The present article addresses these limitations by introducing a conceptual framework that integrates insights from theory and research on resilience, positive psychology, posttraumatic growth, and stress and coping. Approach: The Resilience Portfolio Model is a strengths-based framework designed to provide a holistic understanding of the protective factors and processes that promote resilience in children and adults exposed to violence. It proposes that the density and diversity of resources and assets available to individuals (their resilience portfolio) shapes their responses to violence, and identifies 3 higher-order functional categories of strengths that are proposed to be particularly salient for resilience: regulatory, interpersonal, and meaning-making strengths. Conclusion: The Resilience Portfolio Model offers new directions for studying resilience in victims of violence and identifies a wider range of strengths and protective factors to address in prevention and intervention efforts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 24, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039671   open full text
• Sexual objectification and sexual assault: Do self-objectification and sexual assertiveness account for the link?
  Franz, Molly R.; DiLillo, David; Gervais, Sarah J.
  Psychology of Violence. August 24, 2015
  Objective: Recent research grounded in objectification theory reveals significant positive associations between experiences of sexual objectification and sexual assault victimization. However, it remains unclear why this relationship exists. To address this question, we tested a path model in which repeated experiences of body evaluation (a form of sexual objectification) were expected to increase risk of sexual assault via the mechanisms of increased body surveillance (a form of self-objectification) and lower sexual assertiveness. Method: Participants were 297 undergraduate women who completed validated measures assessing their body evaluation experiences, body surveillance, sexual refusal assertiveness, and sexual victimization. Results: Correlations revealed expected relations among the variables. As hypothesized, the results of path analyses revealed that higher body evaluation predicted greater sexual victimization both directly and indirectly via higher body surveillance and lower sexual assertiveness. Conclusion: This study identifies body surveillance and sexual assertiveness as potentially important factors that may mediate associations between experiences of body evaluation and sexual assault. Findings suggest that interventions designed to interrupt persistent body surveillance and bolster assertiveness in the face of unwanted sexual experiences may be effective in reducing sexual assault. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 24, 2015   doi: 10.1037/vio0000015   open full text
• Protective factors for violence perpetration in Somali young adults: The role of community belonging and neighborhood cohesion.
  Ellis, B. Heidi; Abdi, Saida M.; Miller, Alisa B.; White, Matthew T.; Lincoln, Alisa K.
  Psychology of Violence. August 24, 2015
  Objective: To examine violence perpetration among Somali young adults and the potential for community belonging and neighborhood cohesion to serve as protective influences. Method: Somalis (N = 374) living in 4 North America cities completed verbally administered standardized instruments assessing trauma, neighborhood cohesion, Somali belongingness, and violence perpetration. Results: Younger age and greater time in the U.S./Canada were independently associated with increased odds of violence perpetration, and those who had experienced high levels of trauma (as compared with those with moderate or low trauma exposure) were significantly more likely to commit violence. Furthermore, higher Somali community belonging was associated with a significant reduction in the odds of violence perpetration when neighborhood cohesion was low but an increased odds of violence perpetration when cohesion was high. Conclusions: Neighborhood cohesion and community belonging are both important factors in relation to youth violence. In the context of low neighborhood cohesion, Somali communities may benefit from examining ways of bringing alienated youth back into the community. Efforts to reengage with ostracized youth and extend the same kind of protective cultural resources that benefit those youth who experience higher levels of belonging may be beneficial to both the youth and the communities in which they live. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 24, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039610   open full text
• “And then one night when I went to class...”: The impact of sexual assault bystander intervention workshops incorporated in academic courses.
  Senn, Charlene Y.; Forrest, Anne.
  Psychology of Violence. August 24, 2015
  Objective: This study evaluates the effectiveness of bystander sexual assault prevention education when the training of peer educators and delivery of prevention workshops were embedded in the undergraduate curriculum. Method: Participants were 827 undergraduate students (intervention, n = 518; control, n = 309). In a quasi-experimental design, students completed online surveys at 3 time points (baseline, 1-week postintervention and 4-month follow-up). Outcome measures included efficacy, readiness to change, intentions, perceived barriers to intervention, and behavior related to bystander interventions to sexual assault. Results: The intervention was effective in increasing students’ bystander efficacy, improving readiness to intervene by decreasing beliefs consistent with precontemplation and increasing those related to action, increasing intention to intervene, decreasing perceived skills deficits and concern about what others would think, and increasing proactive bystander behavior. The effects of the intervention were present for men and women and were observed in friendship and stranger contexts. All effects were maintained to 4-months without a booster. Conclusions: Integrating the preparation of peer educators and bystander-type sexual assault prevention workshops into the undergraduate curriculum can produce positive changes in male and female students’ confidence, readiness, and capacity to act as prosocial bystanders for friends and strangers, and increase some bystander behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 24, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039660   open full text
• Improving the community response to sexual assault: An empirical examination of the effectiveness of sexual assault response teams (SARTs).
  Greeson, Megan R.; Campbell, Rebecca; Bybee, Deborah; Kennedy, Angie C.
  Psychology of Violence. August 10, 2015
  Objective: Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs) seek to improve the response to sexual assault by coordinating the efforts of police, prosecutors, nurses/doctors, victim advocates, and other sexual assault responders. However, SARTs vary with respect to their structure, that is, the composition and organization of their team. Therefore, the current study explored the relationship between SART structure and effectiveness. Method: A random sample of N = 172 SART leaders was interviewed. Participants reported on SART structural characteristics and their perceptions of their team’s effectiveness at improving victims’ help-seeking experiences, victims’ participation in the criminal justice system, police processing of cases, and prosecution of cases. Results: Cluster analysis revealed 3 types of SARTs: “Low Adopters” utilized fewer formal structures and were less likely to institutionalize collaborative processes into their teamwork; “High Adopters” utilized more formal structures and were more likely to institutionalize collaborative processes, but did not engage in program evaluation as a multidisciplinary team; and “High Adopters Plus Evaluation” were similar but also engaged in evaluation as a team. High Adopters Plus Evaluation were perceived as significantly more effective than Low Adopters across all domains. High Adopters Plus Evaluation were perceived as more effective at improving victims’ participation in the criminal justice system than High Adopters. SARTs with broader active membership from more stakeholder groups also tended to have higher perceived legal effectiveness. Conclusions: SARTs should consider broad-based active membership and adopting formal structures and collaborative processes to organize their team. Future research can continue to examine factors that contribute to SART success. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 10, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039617   open full text
• Positive school climate as a resilience factor in armed conflict zones.
  Yablon, Yaacov B.
  Psychology of Violence. August 03, 2015
  Objective: Although schools have a meaningful effect on students’ lives, their role as a resilience factor for students experiencing ethno-political violence has never been studied. The aim of the present study was to investigate the contribution of students’ school experience, and the school climate in particular, to students’ coping with violence, and specifically its effect on the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (PTG). Method: A cross-sectional telephone questionnaire survey was held with 534 Israeli high school students who live under constant violence as result of an ethno-political conflict in their region. Results: School climate accounted for 36% of the variance in PTSD and 20% of the variance in PTG. School safety and level of school facilities predicted lower levels of both PTSD and PTG. School connectedness and teacher’s support were found to make a positive contribution to PTG. Furthermore, the risk for PTSD decreases with increasing school attendance. Girls presented higher PTSD and PTG than boys. Conclusion: A positive school climate is an important resilience factor for explaining students’ PTSD and PTG and should be taken into account when designing interventions for students exposed to ethno-political violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 03, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039600   open full text
• Changing orientations to corporal punishment: A randomized, control trial of the efficacy of a motivational approach to psycho-education.
  Holland, Grant W. O.; Holden, George W.
  Psychology of Violence. August 03, 2015
  Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a motivational interviewing (MI) approach in changing positive attitudes toward corporal punishment (CP), behavioral intentions, and behavior. CP has been linked to a variety of negative outcomes for children, and parents’ attitudes toward CP strongly predicts its use. Five brief interventions have been reported in the literature designed to target CP attitudes. The current study adopts a novel approach by evaluating the effects of a brief, psycho-educational intervention incorporating aspects of MI. Method: Forty-three mothers of children ages 3 to 5 completed 1 motivational psycho-education session. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention or waitlist, completing assessments at baseline, postintervention, and 1-month follow-up. After follow-up, the waitlist condition crossed over, completing the intervention and further assessments. Results: The intervention was associated with greater reductions in CP attitudes and intentions versus the waitlist; these effects were replicated in the crossover group. Further, participants’ in-session change-talk predicted greater changes in CP attitudes. The effect size of the current approach was stronger than the prior interventions. Conclusions: MI is a promising approach to address parental use of CP, though this approach needs replication with a larger sample. Several ways of incorporating this approach on a wider scale are considered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 03, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039606   open full text
• A randomized controlled trial of a web-based intervention to reduce distress among students with a history of interpersonal violence.
  Nguyen-Feng, Viann N.; Frazier, Patricia A.; Greer, Christiaan S.; Howard, Kelli G.; Paulsen, Jacob A.; Meredith, Liza; Kim, Shinsig.
  Psychology of Violence. July 20, 2015
  Objective: Many college students have a history of interpersonal violence (IPV) and are thus at risk of greater mental health problems. This study evaluated the efficacy of a web-based stress management program targeting the established protective factor of present control in promoting well-being among students with and without a history of IPV. Method: Students from an introductory psychology course were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to the web-based stress management intervention (n = 329) or the waitlist comparison group (n = 171). Self-report measures of 4 outcomes (perceived stress, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress) and 2 mediators of intervention efficacy (present control, rumination) were completed online pre- and postintervention. IPV history was assessed preintervention. Results: Thirty-nine percent reported an IPV history. The intervention group reported less distress than the comparison group at posttest but effects were larger in the IPV group (mean d = .44) than in the no IPV group (mean d = .10). Increases in present control mediated intervention effects in both groups; decreases in rumination mediated intervention effects in the IPV group only. Conclusions: Web-based universal prevention stress management programs may be a cost-effective way to teach protective skills to students with an IPV history. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  July 20, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039596   open full text
• Collateral damage: Military sexual trauma and help-seeking barriers.
  Holland, Kathryn J.; Rabelo, Verónica Caridad; Cortina, Lilia M.
  Psychology of Violence. June 29, 2015
  Objective: Military Sexual Trauma (MST) can be a harmful aspect of military life. Despite the availability of resources, Service members may encounter barriers that impede help-seeking for sexual assault (i.e., encountering logistical constraints, anticipating stigma). We examined how such barriers undermine wellbeing (i.e., exacerbate symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) among MST survivors, both women and men. Additionally, we investigated how these barriers aggravate depression among Service members who feel unsafe from sexual assault. Method: The current study was a secondary analysis of the 2010 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty Members (WGRA; N = 26,505). Personnel who had experienced MST (n = 542) and those who felt unsafe from sexual assault (n = 1,016) were included in the analyses. Results: The most commonly endorsed barriers were fears that they would be seen as weak, their leaders may treat them differently, and their coworkers might have less confidence in them. As expected, both MST survivors and those feeling unsafe reported more negative psychological symptoms as a function of help-seeking barriers. Conclusions: Results suggest that removal of these barriers may be helpful for the protection of mental health—among assault victims and nonvictims alike. For instance, efforts could be taken to reduce logistical barriers (e.g., allowing time for health care visits) and stigma (e.g., enhancing training for all personnel who work with MST survivors). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 29, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039467   open full text
• Problem-focused coping mediates the impact of intimate partner violence on mental health among Chinese women.
  Wong, Janet Yuen-Ha; Fong, Daniel Yee-Tak; Choi, Anna Wai-Man; Tiwari, Agnes; Chan, Ko Ling; Logan, TK.
  Psychology of Violence. June 29, 2015
  Objective: Our study focused on understanding on the ways that abused Chinese women cope and aimed to examine the mediating role of coping strategies between the relationships of intimate partner violence (IPV; including partner stalking) and mental health problems. Method: A population-based household survey was completed by 550 Chinese community-dwelling women. Data on the mediating roles of coping strategies were examined using structural equation models. Results: The prevalence of IPV among Chinese women was 22.9% for psychological abuse, 6.5% for physical abuse, 2.2% for sexual abuse, and 4.2% for partner stalking in the past year. Abused women used more active coping (p = .01), planning (p = .006), and self-distraction (p = .02) than nonabused women. Results supported the mediating effect of problem-focused and passive coping strategies, but not emotion-focused coping, in the pathways of IPV and mental health outcomes (root mean squared error of approximation = .063, comparative fit index = .93, Tucker-Lewis index = .91, and standardized root mean squared residual = .06). Negative mental health outcomes significantly decreased by problem-focused coping (β = −5.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −9.56, −.77, p = .021) and significantly increased by passive coping (β = 4.72, 95% CI = 1.24, 8.19, p = .008). Conclusions: Abused women used multifaceted types of coping. Both problem-focused and passive coping mediated the IPV-mental health outcomes link. The findings reinforced the importance of helping abused women find practical ways to cope with IPV. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 29, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039496   open full text
• Divorcing mothers’ use of protective strategies: Differences over time and by violence experience.
  Haselschwerdt, Megan L.; Mitchell, Elissa Thomann; Raffaelli, Marcela; Hardesty, Jennifer L.
  Psychology of Violence. June 22, 2015
  Objective: The current study considered protective strategy use at various points in time for divorcing mothers with a range of marital violence experiences (including no history of violence and different types of violence). Method: Divorcing mothers (N = 170) from 1 Midwestern county participated in 2 in-person interviews that included structured assessments of intimate partner violence (IPV) during the last year of marriage and use of protective strategies at 3 time points—last year of marriage and at separation (both assessed at Time 1) and since the first interview (at a 3 month follow-up). Results: Divorcing mothers, regardless of marital violence experience, used an array of private and public protective strategies during the last year of marriage, at separation, and at the 3-month follow up interview. In general, mothers who experienced coercive controlling violence reported using more protective strategies than mothers who experienced situational couple violence or no violence. Strategy use peaked at separation with an increase in public strategy use. Conclusions: All divorcing mothers use a range of active coping strategies over time, yet findings emphasize the importance of making distinctions between types of IPV so that divorcing mothers receive individualized resources and support that best meet their needs and minimize potentials risks and losses as they navigate the divorce process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 22, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039444   open full text
• An investigation of the tenets of social norms theory as they relate to sexually aggressive attitudes and sexual assault perpetration: A comparison of men and their friends.
  Dardis, Christina M.; Murphy, Megan J.; Bill, Alexander C.; Gidycz, Christine A.
  Psychology of Violence. June 15, 2015
  Objective: Social norms approaches to sexual assault prevention have proliferated despite a dearth of empirical evidence for the tenets of social norms theory as it relates to sexual assault. Whereas previous research has found that men’s perceptions of peer aggression influence their perpetration of sexual assault, previous research has not assessed the extent to which men’s perceptions are accurate about their close peers. Method: Undergraduate men (N = 100) from the psychology participant pool completed surveys along with a close friend (N = 100); the concordance in their beliefs about rape and attitudes toward women as well as reported sexually aggressive behaviors was assessed. Results: Men’s own beliefs about rape and attitudes about women were correlated with both their perceptions of their friends’ and of the average college male’s beliefs, but not with their friends’ actual reported beliefs; men’s perceptions of their friends’ beliefs about rape and attitudes toward women were uncorrelated with their friends’ actual reported beliefs as well. Perpetrators of sexual assault were significantly more likely to overestimate their friends’ involvement in sexually aggressive behaviors than were nonperpetrators. The order of measures presented was unrelated to endorsement of any of the variables of interest. Conclusions: Perpetrators of sexual assault hold inaccurate beliefs about their peers’ sexually aggressive attitudes and behaviors, which can be targeted in prevention programming. Such programming should provide more accurate descriptive (e.g., rates of sexual assault among men) as well as injunctive norms (i.e., rates of men’s approval or disapproval of attitudes and beliefs) to combat pluralistic ignorance and the false consensus effect. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 15, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039443   open full text
• Aggression among adolescent victims of school bullying: Protective roles of family and school connectedness.
  Duggins, Shaun D.; Kuperminc, Gabriel P.; Henrich, Christopher C.; Smalls-Glover, Ciara; Perilla, Julia L.
  Psychology of Violence. June 15, 2015
  Objectives: To examine cross-sectional and 2-year longitudinal associations between school victimization and aggression among middle and high school students. Drawing on resilience theory, family and school connectedness were examined as compensatory or protective factors. Method: We sampled 373 students (Grades 7–10, 54% girls, 53% White/Caucasian, 26% Hispanic/Latino, and 56% economically disadvantaged), who completed up to 3 annual surveys. Results: Aggression declined over the 3 waves. Victimization predicted higher initial levels of and steeper decline in aggression. Family connectedness was protective; baseline aggression was lower and declined more steeply for youth who reported more family connectedness. School connectedness played a complex role, potentially contributing to students’ vulnerability over time. Conclusions: The steeper declines in aggression among victimized youth suggest a resilience process. High family connectedness and school belonging were linked to lower level of aggression regardless of victimization. Efforts to provide family support may be effective in reducing risk for aggression among victimized youth. Promoting students’ sense of school belonging may compensate for negative effects of victimization on aggression in the short term; however, broader efforts directed at establishing a safe and supportive school climate and setting social norms that discourage school violence may be necessary to reduce the incidence of victimization and subsequent aggressive behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 15, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039439   open full text
• Longitudinal change in women’s sexual victimization experiences as a function of alcohol consumption and sexual victimization history: A latent transition analysis.
  Bryan, Amanda E. B.; Norris, Jeanette; Abdallah, Devon Alisa; Stappenbeck, Cynthia A.; Morrison, Diane M.; Davis, Kelly C.; George, William H.; Danube, Cinnamon L.; Zawacki, Tina.
  Psychology of Violence. June 08, 2015
  Objective: Women’s alcohol consumption and vulnerability to sexual victimization (SV) are linked, but findings regarding the nature and direction of the association are mixed. Some studies have found support for the self-medication hypothesis (i.e., victimized women drink more to alleviate SV-related distress); others have supported routine activity theory (i.e., drinking increases SV vulnerability). In this study, we aimed to clarify the interplay between women’s prior SV, typical drinking, and SV experiences prospectively over 1 year. Method: Participants (N = 530) completed a baseline survey and weekly follow-up surveys across months 3, 6, 9, and 12. Results: Latent class analysis (LCA) suggested that women could be classified as victimized or nonvictimized at each assessment month; 28% of participants were classified as victimized at 1 or more assessment months. Latent transition analysis (LTA) revealed that childhood sexual abuse and adult SV history each predicted greater likelihood of being victimized during the year. Typical drinking during a given assessment month was associated with (a) greater likelihood of victimized status at that assessment month and (b) greater likelihood of having transitioned into (or remained in) the victimized status since the previous assessment month. Furthermore, victimized status at a given assessment month predicted a higher quantity of subsequent drinking. Conclusion: These findings indicate a reciprocal relationship between typical drinking and SV, supporting both the self-medication hypothesis and routine activity theory, and suggesting that hazardous drinking levels may be an important target for both SV vulnerability reduction and interventions for women who have been sexually victimized. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 08, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039411   open full text
• An examination of the Partner Cyber Abuse Questionnaire in a college student sample.
  Wolford-Clevenger, Caitlin; Zapor, Heather; Brasfield, Hope; Febres, Jeniimarie; Elmquist, JoAnna; Brem, Meagan; Shorey, Ryan C.; Stuart, Gregory L.
  Psychology of Violence. June 08, 2015
  Objective: To examine the factor structure and convergent validity of a newly developed measure of an understudied form of partner abuse, cyber abuse, and to examine the prevalence of, and gender differences in, victimization by cyber abuse. Method: College students in a dating relationship (N = 502) completed the Partner Cyber Abuse Questionnaire (Hamby, 2013), as well as measures of partner abuse victimization and depression. Results: Using exploratory factor analysis, we determined a 1-factor solution was the most statistically and conceptually best fitting model. The cyber abuse victimization factor was correlated with depressive symptoms and physical, psychological, and sexual partner abuse victimization, supporting the convergent validity of the measure. The overall prevalence of victimization by cyber abuse was 40%, with victimization by specific acts ranging from 2% to 31%. Men and women did not differ in their victimization by cyber abuse. Conclusions: Cyber abuse is prevalent among college students and occurs concurrently with other partner abuse forms and depressive symptoms. Given the interrelated nature of partner abuse forms, prevention and intervention programs should address partner abuse occurring in-person and through technology. Cyber abuse should also be considered in the conceptualization and measurement of partner abuse to more fully understand this social problem. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 08, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039442   open full text
• Correction to Cascardi and Muzyczyn (2015).
  No authorship indicated.
  Psychology of Violence. June 01, 2015
  Reports an error in "Concordant Responding on the Physical Assault/Abuse Subscales of the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales 2 and Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory" by Michele Cascardi and Bridget Muzyczyn (Psychology of Violence, Advanced Online Publication, Apr 20, 2015, np). In the article, in Table 1, the total for females in the “Yes” category for CADRI self-reported physical DV-P percentage of total (n) should be 34.8 (112), not 32.5 (122) as reported. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2015-16481-001.) Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate concordance of the physical abuse/assault subscales of 2 commonly used measures of dating violence: the Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory (CADRI) and Revised Conflict Tactics Scales-2 (CTS2). Method:Undergraduates (N = 505) at a northeastern university, who were either currently dating or had dated someone in the past 6 months, completed the CADRI and CTS2 as part of a study on dating experiences. Results: While both measures yielded similar estimates of physical dating violence, approximately 1 half of participants endorsed physically aggressive acts on both measures: 46.7% for perpetration and 50% for victimization. Males were more likely to endorse items on the CTS2 than on the CADRI and there were gender differences in the topography of aggression. Across gender, concordance was associated with higher mode and frequency scores for physical dating violence, as well as more psychological aggression, arguments, and injury. Conclusion: The physical aggression subscales of the CTS2 and CADRI are not interchangeable. Each identified a heterogeneous group of young adults who reported physical dating violence. The subset they shared in common reflected individuals who experienced more frequent and varied dating violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 01, 2015   doi: 10.1037/vio0000013   open full text
• The role of technology in peer harassment: Does it amplify harm for youth?
  Mitchell, Kimberly J.; Jones, Lisa M.; Turner, Heather A.; Shattuck, Anne; Wolak, Janis.
  Psychology of Violence. June 01, 2015
  Objective: To examine the features and emotional impact of peer harassment incidents based on degree of technology involvement. Method: Telephone interviews with a national sample of 791 youth in the United States, ages 10–20. Results: 34% of youth reported 311 harassment incidents in the past year: 54% of incidents involved no technology (in-person only), 15% involved only technology (technology-only), and 31% involved both technology and in-person elements (mixed incidents). Boys ages 10–12 were most likely to report in-person–only incidents; technology-only incidents were reported equally by boys and girls and more so among older teens; mixed incidents were more common among girls. Concern that technology involvement inherently amplifies harm to victims was not supported. Compared with in-person incidents, technology-only incidents were less likely to involve multiple episodes and power imbalances. They were seen by victims as easier to stop and had significantly less emotional impact. Mixed incidents had the most emotional impact, possibly because they occurred across multiple environments and because perpetrators tended to be more socially connected to victims. Conclusions: Youth experiencing “mixed” incidents of peer harassment should be a priority for educators trying to identify the most serious and harmful experiences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 01, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039317   open full text
• Sexual victimization among college women: Role of sexual assertiveness and resistance variables.
  Kelley, Erika L.; Orchowski, Lindsay M.; Gidycz, Christine A.
  Psychology of Violence. June 01, 2015
  Objective: College women are at high risk for sexual assault, especially women with a history of sexual victimization. The present study uses a longitudinal design to explore the role of sexual assertiveness, psychological barriers to resistance, and resistance self-efficacy as putative mediators between prior sexual victimization and sexual revictimization among a sample of 296 college women. Method: Women completed assessments of sexual victimization since the age of 14, as well as putative mediator variables at a baseline assessment. Sexual revictimization was assessed over a 7-month interim. Results: Results of structural equation modeling indicated that the relationship between baseline and follow-up sexual assault was mediated by the study variables. Follow-up analyses suggested that sexual assertiveness served as a particularly salient mediator. Conclusions: These findings suggest that increasing women’s sexual assertiveness skills may be a particularly important component of reducing risk for sexual revictimization among women with a history of assault. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 01, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039407   open full text
• Correction to Testa et al. (2014).
  No authorship indicated.
  Psychology of Violence. May 11, 2015
  Reports an error in "Measuring Sexual Aggression Perpetration in College Men: A Comparison of Two Measures" by Maria Testa, Joseph H. Hoffman, Joseph F. Lucke and Colleen E. Pagnan (Psychology of Violence, Advanced Online Publication, Aug 18, 2014, np). In the Advance online publication of this article, there are errors in the Results and Discussion sections. The corrected information is provided. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2014-34006-001.) Objective: The present study was designed to provide a comparison of rates of self-reported sexual aggression perpetration obtained using 2 different measures—a version of the Sexual Experiences Survey (SES; Abbey, Parkhill, Clinton-Sherrod, & Zawacki, 2007; Koss, Gidycz, & Wisniewski, 1987) and the Sexual Strategies Scale (SSS, Strang, Peterson, Hill, & Heiman, 2013; Struckman-Johnson, Struckman-Johnson, & Anderson, 2003). We also examined the psychometric structure of each measure using Rasch model item analysis (Rasch, 1966). Method: Two equivalent cohorts of entering freshman males (n = 994 and n = 1043) from a large northeastern university completed online measures at the end of their first semester. Results: Identical proportions of men reported using intoxication strategies (3%) and physical force (1%) during the past semester on both measures. More men reported verbal strategies on the SSS (7.8%) compared with the SES (3.7%), even when restricting to equivalent items. Rasch analysis suggested that the SSS conformed better to a unidimensional continuum of perpetration severity than the SES; however, Rasch analysis did not provide definitive support for either a tactic-based (SSS) or a tactic-plus-outcome–based (SES) hierarchy. Conclusions: Both measures functioned adequately. However, the SSS may be preferred for its better Rasch properties, better assessment of the less severe tactics, and simpler wording. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  May 11, 2015   doi: 10.1037/vio0000012   open full text
• “Experiences of arriving to Sweden as an unaccompanied asylum-seeking minor From Afghanistan: An interpretative phenomenological analysis”: Correction to Thommessen, Corcoran, and Todd (2015).
  No authorship indicated.
  Psychology of Violence. April 27, 2015
  Reports an error in "Experiences of arriving to Sweden as an unaccompanied asylum-seeking minor from Afghanistan: An interpretative phenomenological analysis" by Sara Amalie O’Toole Thommessen, Paula Corcoran and Brenda K. Todd (Psychology of Violence, Advanced Online Publication, Feb 9, 2015, np). The name of author Sara Amalie O’Toole Thommessen was misspelled as Sara Amalie O’Toole Thommesssen. All versions of this article have been corrected. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2015-04976-001.) Objective: The number of individuals seeking refuge and safety in European and Western host-societies has increased in recent years, and there is no evidence to suggest that this trend will reverse in the foreseeable future. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and youth are particularly vulnerable to risk. The detrimental influence of political conflicts, war, and forced migration on asylum-seeking individuals’ mental health is well-documented; however, the stressors encountered after arrival to the host country have been investigated less frequently. This study explored how a group of 6 male refugees from Afghanistan experienced arriving to the Swedish host-society as unaccompanied minors, and how they perceived the support available to them. Method: Based on individual semistructured interviews, an interpretative phenomenological analysis was carried out to explore the perceived risks and protective factors during the first months and years in the host-society. Results: The qualitative findings draw attention to the crucial importance of clarifying the complex asylum-seeking process, the protective influence of social support, the importance of educational guidance, and participants’ strong desire to fit in and move forward with their lives. Conclusion: The resulting information can inform the practice of supporting asylum-seeking youths’ adaptation in host-societies and in developing assessment measures and interventions for these groups. Specifically, the results indicate the protective role of social support and highlight the potential value of mentoring schemes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 27, 2015   doi: 10.1037/vio0000011   open full text
• Concordant responding on the physical assault/abuse subscales of the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales 2 and Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory.
  Cascardi, Michele; Muzyczyn, Bridget.
  Psychology of Violence. April 20, 2015
  [Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported in Vol 6(2) of Psychology of Violence (see record 2015-24232-001). In the article, in Table 1, the total for females in the “Yes” category for CADRI self-reported physical DV-P percentage of total (n) should be 34.8 (112), not 32.5 (122) as reported.] Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate concordance of the physical abuse/assault subscales of 2 commonly used measures of dating violence: the Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory (CADRI) and Revised Conflict Tactics Scales-2 (CTS2). Method:Undergraduates (N = 505) at a northeastern university, who were either currently dating or had dated someone in the past 6 months, completed the CADRI and CTS2 as part of a study on dating experiences. Results: While both measures yielded similar estimates of physical dating violence, approximately 1 half of participants endorsed physically aggressive acts on both measures: 46.7% for perpetration and 50% for victimization. Males were more likely to endorse items on the CTS2 than on the CADRI and there were gender differences in the topography of aggression. Across gender, concordance was associated with higher mode and frequency scores for physical dating violence, as well as more psychological aggression, arguments, and injury. Conclusion: The physical aggression subscales of the CTS2 and CADRI are not interchangeable. Each identified a heterogeneous group of young adults who reported physical dating violence. The subset they shared in common reflected individuals who experienced more frequent and varied dating violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 20, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039128   open full text
• Gendered pathways: Violent childhood maltreatment, sex exchange, and drug use.
  Verona, Edelyn; Murphy, Brett; Javdani, Shabnam.
  Psychology of Violence. April 20, 2015
  Objective: Recent work has emphasized the role of violent victimization, along with risky contexts like sex exchange, in pathways to problems of externalizing and substance use in women. Nonetheless, few studies have empirically tested gender differences involving the roles of adversity factors (e.g., childhood violent maltreatment, sex exchange) in drug use patterns. The present study tested a model of gender differences in relationships between childhood physical and sexual abuse, sex exchange, and 2 indicators of drug use: engagement and symptoms of disorder. Method: We recruited an ethnically diverse sample of 304 (130 women) adults with recent histories of violence and/or drug use, who completed a substance use diagnostic interview, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and a sex exchange questionnaire. Results: First, structural equation modeling revealed that childhood sexual and physical abuse were related to increased drug engagement in women and men, respectively, above the influence of early childhood contextual variables (e.g., neighborhood, family) and age. Second, sexual abuse was related to sex exchange, which in turn was related to drug use symptoms in women but not men. Conclusions: These data provide empirical support for distinct trauma-related pathways to drug use problems in men and women, which has implications for gendered explanations and prevention approaches. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 20, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039126   open full text
• Linking forms and functions of aggression in adults to justice and rejection sensitivity.
  Bondü, Rebecca; Richter, Philipp.
  Psychology of Violence. April 20, 2015
  Objective: Research has linked individual differences in justice and rejection sensitivity to aggression in different age groups. However, different forms and functions of aggression have not been considered when investigating these links in adults. Furthermore, no attention has been paid to verbal aggression or the conjoint effects of justice and rejection sensitivity. Method: The present study assessed rejection sensitivity as well as victim, observer, and perpetrator justice sensitivity in 349 German adults. Links with self-reported forms (physical, relational, verbal) and functions (proactive, reactive) of aggression were examined. Results: In structural equation models controlling for age and gender, higher victim sensitivity predicted higher relational, proactive, and reactive aggression and higher observer sensitivity predicted higher physical and verbal aggression. In contrast, higher perpetrator sensitivity predicted lower physical, relational, verbal, and proactive aggression. Higher rejection sensitivity predicted higher physical and reactive, but lower verbal aggression. Using a 2-dimensional definition of aggression considering forms and functions of aggression at the same time yielded similar results. There were marked gender differences. Conclusion: Justice and rejection sensitivity may explain individual differences in forms and functions of aggression in adults and should therefore be considered in the planning of preventive and intervention measures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 20, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039200   open full text
• Prevalence and offense characteristics of multiple casualty homicides: Are schools at higher risk than other locations?
  Nekvasil, Erin K.; Cornell, Dewey G.; Huang, Francis L.
  Psychology of Violence. April 13, 2015
  Objective: In light of public concern about school shootings, this study examined the prevalence and offense characteristics of multiple casualty homicides across locations. Method: We used the FBI’s National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) to examine 18,873 homicide incidents involving 25,180 victims who were either killed or injured from 2005 through 2010. Results: Multiple casualty homicides were surprisingly common events, with approximately 22% of homicide incidents involving 2 or more victims. Multiple casualty homicides were much more common in residences (47%) versus schools (0.8%), but homicides in residences tended to have 1 victim (78%) rather than multiple victims (22%), whereas homicides in schools were about equally likely to have 1 victim (57%) or multiple victims (43%). Multiple homicides were more likely to involve firearms than weapons such as knives or blunt objects. Finally, there were statistical differences in offense characteristics for homicides with 1, 2, and 3 victims. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the public perception that schools are a high-risk location for homicides is inaccurate. Although concern about school shootings is understandable, the larger problem of multiple casualty shootings is more common in other locations which do not receive comparable media attention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 13, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0038967   open full text
• On scientific writing in the information era: Tailoring papers for Internet searching and other 21st century realities.
  Hamby, Sherry.
  Psychology of Violence. April 06, 2015
  Objective: There are many domains of scientific expertise that are seldom documented. It is the objective of this paper to provide more advanced guidance on scientific writing for those who are already familiar with the basic elements of American Psychological Association (APA) style. This paper also discusses the impact of the information revolution on the consumption of scientific knowledge and makes recommendations for adapting scientific writing in light of the dominance of search engines and Internet publication. Approach: Communication strategies are presented for each section of an APA paper. Recommendations include: recognizing the importance of the abstract and searchable keywords; recognizing that many readers will be skimming papers for specific information and making better use of the formal structure of scientific papers to communicate to “skimmers”; recognizing that technology has reduced obstacles to incorporating tables and figures; and making more use of nontextual presentation of data. Conclusion: Scientific communication is changing rapidly, and we must do more to help researchers attain science communication skills as quickly as possible. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 06, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039008   open full text
• A multilevel analysis of school climate, homophobic name-calling, and sexual harassment victimization/perpetration among middle school youth.
  Rinehart, Sarah J.; Espelage, Dorothy L.
  Psychology of Violence. March 30, 2015
  Objective: Using multiinformant, multilevel modeling, this study examines the association between teacher/staff perceptions of school environment and student reports of homophobic name-calling and sexual harassment. Method: Surveys were conducted with 1,447 teachers/staff and 3,616 6th grade students across 36 middle schools in the Midwest. Results: Bivariate associations revealed that when teachers perceive schools as committed to bullying prevention, students reported less homophobic name-calling perpetration, sexual harassment perpetration, and sexual harassment victimization. When adults reported positive staff/student interactions, students endorsed lower levels of homophobic name-calling perpetration and victimization and less sexual harassment perpetration. Higher teacher/staff reported gender equity was correlated with less homophobic name-calling perpetration and victimization and sexual harassment perpetration. In a model with all school environment scales entered together, school commitment to prevent bullying was associated with less sexual harassment perpetration; in addition, higher gender equity and intolerance of sexual harassment at the school level was associated with fewer experiences of homophobic name-calling perpetration and victimization and sexual harassment perpetration. Conclusions: Efforts to address gendered harassment should include support from the school administration and professional development opportunities for all teachers and staff. Adults in the school should create a culture that is intolerant of sexual harassment and supports equality between the girls and boys in the school. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 30, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039095   open full text
• What difference do bystanders make? The association of bystander involvement with victim outcomes in a community sample.
  Hamby, Sherry; Weber, Marcela C.; Grych, John; Banyard, Victoria.
  Psychology of Violence. March 30, 2015
  Objective: To fill gaps in the bystander literature by describing patterns of bystander involvement and associations between bystander involvement and victim outcomes across different types of emotional, physical, and sexual victimizations and to expand these considerations to a rural rather than urban sample. Method: Adults and adolescents (n = 1,703) were surveyed about bystander actions, bystander safety, and victim outcomes (injury, disrupted routine, fear level, and current mental health) for 10 forms of victimization. Results: Bystanders were present for roughly 2 thirds of most victimization types (59% to 67%), except sexual victimization (17%). Relatives were the most common bystanders of family violence and friends or acquaintances were the most common bystanders of peer violence. For all 10 victimizations, more bystanders helped than harmed the situation, but most commonly had no impact. Rates of bystander harm for sexual victimizations were higher than for other types. Especially for peer-perpetrated incidents, victim outcomes were often better when bystanders helped. Bystander safety (unharmed and unthreatened) was consistently associated with better victim outcomes. Conclusion: Bystanders witness the majority of physical and psychological victimizations. These data lend support to the premise of many prevention programs that helpful bystanders are associated with more positive victim outcomes. Bystander prevention should focus on the type of bystanders most commonly present and should teach bystanders ways to stay safe while helping victims. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 30, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039073   open full text
• Children’s narratives of alleged child sexual abuse offender behaviors and the manipulation process.
  Katz, Carmit; Barnetz, Zion.
  Psychology of Violence. March 23, 2015
  Objective: The aim of the current study is to examine offender behaviors and manipulation tactics described by children using a mixed method analysis. Method: The sample consisted of 95 randomly selected investigative interviews with children (aged 5 to 13 years) in which external evidence indicated a high probability that abuse occurred. An initial qualitative phase that aimed to identify key offender behaviors and manipulation tactics was followed by a quantitative phase, which explored the frequency of these tactics and their relations to children and abuse characteristics. Results: In the qualitative phase, the children described the emotional rapport offenders exhibited with them, the manipulation of their families, and the use of temptation and coercion immediately before or after the abuse. In the quantitative analysis, the establishment of emotional rapport and manipulation of the families were the most frequent offender behaviors. Girls more frequently reported emotional rapport, and children who experienced multiple incidents reported the manipulation of families more often. Conclusions: In the current study the children’s reports focused more on the establishment of rapport and threats to family members and less on the offering of temptations than past research on offenders’ descriptions of manipulation tactics. This suggests children focus more on the interpersonal aspects of offenders’ manipulation efforts, and this could be a focus of investigation and intervention. Moreover, these interpersonal aspects strengthen previous studies regarding the importance of communities in the prevention of child abuse. Communities must be a central component in understanding children’s safety and well-being. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  March 23, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0039023   open full text
• Masculinity and bystander attitudes: Moderating effects of masculine gender role stress.
  Leone, Ruschelle M.; Parrott, Dominic J.; Swartout, Kevin M.; Tharp, Andra Teten.
  Psychology of Violence. February 16, 2015
  Objective: The purpose of the current study was to examine the bystander decision-making process as a mechanism by which men’s adherence to various dimensions of traditional masculinity is associated with their confidence to intervene in sexually aggressive events. Further, this study examined the stress men experience from their attempts to adhere to traditional male gender roles as a moderator of this mediational path. Method: Participants (n = 252) completed measures of traditional masculinity, decisional balance (i.e., weighing the pros and cons) for intervening, masculine gender roles stress, and bystander efficacy. Results: The belief that men must attain social status was associated with more confidence in men’s ability to intervene. This effect was mediated by greater perceived positive consequences for intervention among men high, but not low, in masculine gender role stress. The belief that men should be tough and aggressive was associated with greater perceived negative consequences for intervention and less confidence to intervene. The belief that men should not act in stereotypically feminine ways was directly associated with less confidence for intervention. Conclusions: Findings highlight the importance of examining masculinity from a multidimensional perspective to better understand how adherence to various norms differentially influences bystander behavior. These findings may help to inform bystander intervention programming. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  February 16, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0038926   open full text
• Experiences of arriving to Sweden as an unaccompanied asylum-seeking minor from Afghanistan: An interpretative phenomenological analysis.
  Thommessen, Sara Amalie O'Toole; Corcoran, Paula; Todd, Brenda K.
  Psychology of Violence. February 09, 2015
  [Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported in Vol 5(4) of Psychology of Violence (see record 2015-17978-001). The name of author Sara Amalie O’Toole Thommessen was misspelled as Sara Amalie O’Toole Thommesssen. All versions of this article have been corrected.] Objective: The number of individuals seeking refuge and safety in European and Western host-societies has increased in recent years, and there is no evidence to suggest that this trend will reverse in the foreseeable future. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and youth are particularly vulnerable to risk. The detrimental influence of political conflicts, war, and forced migration on asylum-seeking individuals’ mental health is well-documented; however, the stressors encountered after arrival to the host country have been investigated less frequently. This study explored how a group of 6 male refugees from Afghanistan experienced arriving to the Swedish host-society as unaccompanied minors, and how they perceived the support available to them. Method: Based on individual semistructured interviews, an interpretative phenomenological analysis was carried out to explore the perceived risks and protective factors during the first months and years in the host-society. Results: The qualitative findings draw attention to the crucial importance of clarifying the complex asylum-seeking process, the protective influence of social support, the importance of educational guidance, and participants’ strong desire to fit in and move forward with their lives. Conclusion: The resulting information can inform the practice of supporting asylum-seeking youths’ adaptation in host-societies and in developing assessment measures and interventions for these groups. Specifically, the results indicate the protective role of social support and highlight the potential value of mentoring schemes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  February 09, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0038842   open full text
• Differential relationships between childhood and adolescent sexual victimization and cognitive–affective sexual appraisals.
  Kelley, Erika L.; Gidycz, Christine A.
  Psychology of Violence. February 09, 2015
  Objective: The aim of the current study is to examine the potential differential relationships between sexual victimization occurring in different developmental stages (i.e., in childhood, adolescence, or both stages) and cognitive–affective sexual appraisals (i.e., sexual self-schemas, sexual self-esteem, and erotophobia–erotophilia). Method: The sample included 710 college women who completed surveys for course credit. Results: Results indicated that a history of childhood sexual abuse was uniquely related to lower control sexual self-esteem, whereas history of adolescent sexual assault was uniquely related to greater erotophilia and more positive romantic/passionate sexual self-schema, yet lower control, attractiveness, and moral/judgment sexual self-esteem. However, an experience of both childhood sexual abuse and adolescent sexual abuse was not significantly related to any cognitive–affective sexual appraisals. Childhood psychological abuse was also uniquely related to more open/direct sexual self-schema and greater erotophilia, yet lower attractiveness sexual self-esteem. Conclusions: Results suggest that identification of the developmental stage during which sexual abuse is experienced is an important variable to assess for in relation to affective components of sexuality and may have implications for treatment of sexual assault survivors. For example, women with a history of adolescent sexual assault may benefit from acceptance-based techniques focusing on core dimensions of self-esteem related to their sexuality. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  February 09, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0038854   open full text
• "Associations among county-level social determinants of health, child maltreatment, and emotional support on health-related quality of life in adulthood": Correction to Barile et al. (2014).
  No authorship indicated.
  Psychology of Violence. February 02, 2015
  Reports an error in "Associations Among County-Level Social Determinants of Health, Child Maltreatment, and Emotional Support on Health-Related Quality of Life in Adulthood" by John P. Barile, Valerie J. Edwards, Satvinder S. Dhingra and William W. Thompson (Psychology of Violence, Advanced Online Publication, Oct 27, 2014, np). Data in Table 2 were incorrectly reported in the “Obtain needed support” column for the country-level predictors unemployment rate and median income. No corrections to the text were needed. The correct data are presented in the erratum. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2014-44668-001.) Objective: This study determined whether county-level social determinants of health and adverse childhood experiences (ACE) were associated with emotional support and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adulthood. This study represents the largest population-based investigation on ACE to include county-level indicators of the social ecology. Method: We used data from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey (29,212 adults from 5 states) and the American Community Survey (2010; 304 counties). Multilevel structural equation models were employed to test direct and indirect associations between county-level social determinants of health, ACEs and indicators of adult HRQOL. Results: At the individual level, ACEs were associated with lower emotional support, and lower emotional support was associated with worse physical and mental HRQOL. Parental divorce was associated with better mental HRQOL for individuals who reported ≥2 forms of childhood maltreatment and/or negative household environments during childhood. At the county-level, low median income and high county-level unemployment were associated with low emotional support, and high median income and high unemployment were directly associated with poor physical and mental HRQOL. Conclusion: Findings from this study suggest that intervention efforts designed to promote positive emotional supports for adults who have experienced ACEs, particularly for those living in disadvantaged counties, may ameliorate potential health consequences during adulthood. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  February 02, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0038841   open full text
• Intimate partner violence among sexual minority populations: A critical review of the literature and agenda for future research.
  Edwards, Katie M.; Sylaska, Kateryna M.; Neal, Angela M.
  Psychology of Violence. February 02, 2015
  Objective: This authors provide an overview and critical analysis of research on intimate partner violence (IPV) among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) persons and discuss recommendations for future research on the topic. Method: Ninety-six empirical articles published from 1999 to the present, examining IPV among samples of LGB persons, were reviewed. Results: Research documents that rates of IPV among LGB individuals are equal to or greater than rates observed among heterosexual individuals. A number of risk factors for IPV victimization and perpetration among LGB individuals have also been identified; these risk factors are similar to those documented among heterosexual individuals and also include minority stress risk factors (e.g., internalized homonegativity), which may help explain increased rates of IPV among sexual minorities. A substantial research literature also documents disclosure, help-seeking, leaving, and recovery processes among LGB victims of IPV, indicating a number of similarities to heterosexual victims of IPV, as well as differences, which too can be understood through a minority stress framework. Conclusion: We identified a number of important future research strategies within the domains of measurement, participants/sampling, study methodology, and IPV co-occurrence with other forms of violence. We also discussed the importance of addressing minority stress in IPV prevention efforts for LGB individuals, and improving LGB IPV service availability and provider sensitivity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  February 02, 2015   doi: 10.1037/a0038656   open full text
• On the use of race and ethnicity as variables in violence research.
  Hamby, Sherry.
  Psychology of Violence. December 29, 2014
  Race and ethnicity are important social constructs. However, they are also complex constructs, and handling them appropriately and without bias in scientific research remains a challenge. This editorial identifies some limitations of common approaches to using race and ethnicity merely as “social address” markers. The need to consider ways that race, ethnicity, and related constructs such as national origin might vary outside the United States is also addressed. Fourteen specific suggestions are offered for ways to improve the handling of race and ethnicity in psychology research, with a specific focus on the topic of violence research. These include fairly simple steps, such as using racial and ethnic designations as adjectives, not nouns, and providing detailed racial and ethnic membership for your entire sample without collapsing across dissimilar groups just because they are few in number. Others are more resource-intensive steps, such as adopting sampling frames that will lead to more diverse samples or greater inclusion of understudied groups. With specific regard to violence research, we need more research on topics such as hate crimes, cultural adaptations of prevention and intervention programs, and evaluations of whether prevention and intervention work equally well across racial and ethnic groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  December 29, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0038470   open full text
• Research agenda for violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women: Toward the development of strength-based and resilience interventions.
  Yuan, Nicole P.; Belcourt-Dittloff, Annie; Schultz, Katie; Packard, Gwendolyn; Duran, Bonnie M.
  Psychology of Violence. December 08, 2014
  Objective: Exposure to violence threatens the health and well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women and children. In the first part of the commentary, we provide a brief overview of research, policies, and programs aimed at reducing violence against AI/AN women. In the second part, we present 3 recommendations for an expanded research agenda. The first recommendation is to promote participatory research on risk and protective factors to inform the development of culturally appropriate, strength-based and resilience interventions. The second recommendation is to increase applications of life course theories and examine the interconnectedness between intimate partner violence (IPV) and violence exposures that occur during childhood and older adulthood. The third recommendation is to conduct more studies on social and historical determinants of violence, with an emphasis on community and societal factors. Conclusions: Increased applications of theoretical frameworks may shed light on social, economic, historical, and cultural factors associated with violence against AI/AN women. Incorporating the factors in IPV prevention and intervention programs requires active participation and indigenous knowledge from AI/AN scholars, leaders, advocates, and communities. Diverse stakeholders play an important role in promoting the use of cultural strengths to improve the health and safety of AI/AN women and families. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  December 08, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0038507   open full text
• Impact of violence research on participants over time: Helpful, harmful, or neither?
  Cook, Sarah L.; Swartout, Kevin M.; Goodnight, Bradley L.; Hipp, Tracy N.; Bellis, Alexandra L.
  Psychology of Violence. December 08, 2014
  Objective: To investigate the impact of answering survey questions about experiences of stressful, stigmatizing, potentially traumatic, and sexually violating events on well being, defined as reactions to research, anxiety, and positive and negative affect over 2 weeks. Method: With an ethnically diverse sample of 559 higher education students, we employed a mixed experimental design (with between- and within-subjects components) to evaluate changes in positive and negative affect, anxiety, traumatic stress symptoms, and reactions to research. We used multilevel regression models and planned contrasts to determine which, if any, specific characteristics of the survey questions caused changes in well being by comparing the effects of answering a randomly assigned set of survey questions about stressful, stigmatizing, potentially traumatic, or sexually violating life events across a 2-week period. Results: Controlling for baseline posttraumatic stress symptoms and levels of the outcome, we identified few statistically significant effects between conditions or across time. Significant effects included a small decrease in positive affect immediately after responding to questions about sexually violating events, which diminished at 2 weeks; these same participants perceived fewer drawbacks to research participation. Participants who responded to questions about stressful life events reported greater perceptions of benefits. Conclusions: Our data support the safety of survey research on sexual assault or other stressful, stigmatizing, or potentially traumatic events. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  December 08, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0038442   open full text
• Validating the voodoo doll task as a proxy for aggressive parenting behavior.
  McCarthy, Randy J.; Crouch, Julie L.; Basham, Ariel R.; Milner, Joel S.; Skowronski, John J.
  Psychology of Violence. November 24, 2014
  Objective: Six studies (N = 1,081 general population parents) assessed the validity of the voodoo doll task (VDT) as a proxy for aggressive parenting behaviors. Method: Participants were given an opportunity to symbolically inflict harm by choosing to stick “pins” into a doll representing their child. Results: Individual differences in parents’ trait aggression (Studies 1, 2, and 6), state hostility (Study 3), attitudes toward the corporal punishment of children (Study 4), self-control (Study 6), depression (Study 6), and child physical abuse risk (Study 6) were associated with increased pin usage. Further, parents used more pins after imagining their child performing negative behaviors compared to after imagining their child perform positive behaviors (Study 5). A number of demographic variables also were associated with pin usage: Fathers used pins more than mothers and parents’ education level was inversely related to pin usage. Finally, on average, parents viewed the VDT as slightly uncomfortable, but not objectionable, to complete (Study 6). Conclusions: Our evidence suggests that the VDT may serve as a useful proxy for parent-to-child aggression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  November 24, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0038456   open full text
• Advancing domestic violence program evaluation: Development and validation of the Measure of Victim Empowerment Related to Safety (MOVERS).
  Goodman, Lisa A.; Cattaneo, Lauren Bennett; Thomas, Kristie; Woulfe, Julie; Chong, Siu Kwan; Smyth, Katya Fels.
  Psychology of Violence. November 10, 2014
  Objective: As budgets tighten and demand grows, domestic violence (DV) programs are facing enormous pressure to demonstrate the impact of their work. A critical challenge to doing so is the absence of outcome measures that reflect DV programs’ missions and survivors’ goals for themselves. Academic-community partnerships are critical to developing such measures. The 2 aims of this study were to (a) develop and validate a measure—the Measure of Victim Empowerment Related to Safety (MOVERS)—that taps a key goal shared by DV program staff and program participants, and (b) draw on and model the benefits of community-based participatory research. Method: We evaluated the factor structure, reliability, and validity of MOVERS through a 2-stage process in which we developed a university-community partnership with 17 DV programs across the Northeast and administered a survey to 230 help-seeking survivors. Results: A scree plot and parallel analysis supported a 3-factor solution, with subscales assessing the extent to which a survivor (a) has developed a set of safety-related goals and a belief in her ability to accomplish them, (b) perceives that she has the support she needs to move toward safety, and (c) senses that her actions toward safety will not cause new problems in other domains. Each subscale demonstrated good internal reliability and construct validity. Conclusion: MOVERS provides a tool for assessing a key dimension of survivors’ experience and enables the evaluation of domestic violence program practices in ways that are consistent with core program and survivor goals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  November 10, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0038318   open full text
• Childhood exposure to intimate partner violence between adults other than parents.
  DeJonghe, Erika S.
  Psychology of Violence. November 10, 2014
  Objective: The available research on childhood exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) tends to focus on the effects of exposure to IPV involving parents. The current study explores the prevalence of exposure to IPV involving adults other than parents. Method: College-age men (N = 483) retrospectively report on their childhood exposure to IPV involving parents and IPV involving other adults. Participants also report their own experiences with IPV as adults. Results: Approximately a quarter of participants report witnessing IPV in which parents are neither perpetrators nor victims. Participants commonly report witnessing IPV involving nonparent adults such as family friends, grandparents, uncles and aunts, adult siblings and their partners, and other relatives. In addition, childhood exposure to IPV between nonparents accounts for unique variance in later perpetration of IPV, over and above the effects of exposure to IPV involving parents. Conclusions: Findings suggest that childhood exposure to IPV involving nonparent adults is common. Results are preliminary, but suggest that IPV between nonparent adults may represent an understudied aspect of childhood exposure to IPV. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  November 10, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0038323   open full text
• What is the best way to analyze less frequent forms of violence? The case of sexual aggression.
  Swartout, Kevin M.; Thompson, Martie P.; Koss, Mary P.; Su, Nan.
  Psychology of Violence. November 03, 2014
  Objective: Most frequency data on violence are non-normally distributed, which can lead to faulty conclusions when not modeled appropriately. And, we can’t prevent what we can’t accurately predict. We therefore review a series of methods specifically suited to analyze frequency data, with specific reference to the psychological study of sexual aggression. In the process, we demonstrate a model comparison exercise using sample data on college men’s sexual aggression. Method: We used a subset (n = 645) of a larger longitudinal dataset to demonstrate fitting and comparison of 6 analytic methods: OLS regression, OLS regression with a square-root–transformed outcome, Poisson regression, negative binomial regression, zero-inflated Poisson regression, and zero-inflated negative binomial regression. Risk and protective factors measured at Time 1 predicted frequency of sexual aggression at Time 2 (8 months later) within each model. Models were compared on overall fit, parsimony, and interpretability based upon previous findings and substantive theory. Results: As we predicted, OLS regression assumptions were untenable. Of the count-based regression models, the negative binomial model fit the data best; it fit the data better than the Poisson and zero-inflated Poisson models, and it was more parsimonious than the zero-inflated negative binomial model without a significant degradation in model fit. Conclusion: In addition to more accurately modeling violence frequency data, count-based models have clear interpretations that can be disseminated to a broad audience. We recommend analytic steps investigators can use when analyzing count outcomes as well as further avenues researchers can explore in working with non-normal data on violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  November 03, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0038316   open full text
• Self-report measures that do not produce gender parity in intimate partner violence: A multi-study investigation.
  Hamby, Sherry.
  Psychology of Violence. October 27, 2014
  Objective: Gender patterns in intimate partner violence (IPV) remain a controversial topic. Some self-report measures produce gender “parity” in IPV rates. However, other self-report surveys do not produce gender parity, nor do arrests, reports to law enforcement, homicide data, helpseeking data, or witness reports. This methodological inconsistency is still poorly understood. The objective of these studies is to explore the effects of item wording on gender patterns for victimization reports in a range of samples. Method: In Study 1, 238 undergraduates were randomly assigned either the standard Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS) physical victimization items or a version which changed the partner-specific wording to generic wording (“Someone” instead of “My partner”), with perpetrator information collected in follow-up. Studies 2 and 3 compared the standard approach to items with stems intended to reduce false positives (either “Not including horseplay or joking around . . .” or “When my partner was angry . . .”), among 251 college students and 98 agency-involved women, respectively. Study 4 implemented the “not joking” alternative from Study 3 in a large rural community sample (n = 1,207). Results: In Studies 1 and 2, significant Wording × Gender analyses indicated that some item wordings yielded higher rates of female than male victimization. Study 3 showed similar patterns across forms for highly victimized women. Study 4 found higher female than male victimization for a new scale and every item. Conclusion: The CTS and similar behavioral checklists are unusual in their inattention to false positives. Self-report measures designed to minimize false positives produce results consistent with other IPV methodologies; that is, they do not demonstrate gender parity. The Partner Victimization Scale, described here, can be used when a scale that has multimethod convergence with other IPV methodologies is desired. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 27, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0038207   open full text
• Intimate partner violence, maternal sensitive parenting behaviors, and children’s executive functioning.
  Gustafsson, Hanna C.; Coffman, Jennifer L.; Cox, Martha J.
  Psychology of Violence. October 27, 2014
  Objective: Despite knowledge that intimate partner violence (IPV) can negatively affect children’s socioemotional and behavioral development, less is known about the impact of IPV on children’s cognitive development, including whether it influences their executive functioning (EF). The goal of the current study was to address this gap in the literature, by examining the association between IPV that occurs early in life and EF at school entry. This study also allowed for the investigation of maternal sensitive parenting behaviors as a possible mediator of this relation. Method: Using longitudinal data from a socioeconomically and racially diverse sample of families (n = 154), we investigated the association between IPV measured when children were 24, 30, and 36 months old and their EF when they were 60 months old. We also tested whether maternal sensitive parenting behaviors (measured when children were 24, 36, and 60 months old) mediated this association. Results: Results indicate that, even after controlling for a number of family- and child-level covariates, IPV occurring early in children’s lives was negatively associated with their EF at school entry. This relation was mediated by maternal sensitive parenting behaviors, such that higher levels of IPV were associated with lower levels of sensitive parenting behaviors, which in turn were positively associated with children’s EF. Conclusions: These findings add to a limited body of literature that links IPV and children’s cognitive functioning, and suggest that intervention efforts aimed at improving children’s EF may want to simultaneously consider IPV and maternal sensitive parenting behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 27, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037971   open full text
• Racially-focused peer victimization: Prevalence, psychosocial impacts, and the influence of coping strategies.
  Mendez, Julian J.; Bauman, Sheri; Sulkowski, Michael L.; Davis, Stan; Nixon, Charisse.
  Psychology of Violence. October 27, 2014
  Objective: The current study is the first to our knowledge to examine the prevalence, psychosocial impacts, and influence of coping strategies students employ when responding to racially focused peer victimization. Method: An online survey was administered as part of the Youth Voice Project to 13,177 students at their schools in 5 areas of the United States. The 3,305 participants (grades 5 through 12) who reported being victimized twice per month or more were included in the sample. Results: Twelve percent of participants reported being targeted with a focus on race. Those who were victimized with a focus on race were 1.4 times more likely to report a severe emotional impact from the experience. When responding to racially focused peer victimization, utilizing specific coping strategies (i.e., planned to hit or fight them, told the person to stop, told an adult at school, and told an adult at home) were positively correlated with the severity of emotional impact. Conclusion: Our findings have important implications for prevention and intervention program development, which must highlight the particular damage caused by race-based peer victimization. A stronger focus on how teachers respond when they are aware of peer victimization is critical for the development of effective training programs for educators given that telling an adult was not helpful in the eyes of most youth. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 27, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0038161   open full text
• Early stigmatization, PTSD, and perceived negative reactions of others predict subsequent strategies for processing child sexual abuse.
  Simon, Valerie A.; Feiring, Candice; Cleland, Charles M.
  Psychology of Violence. October 27, 2014
  Objective: Trauma processing is central to healthy recovery, but few studies examine how youth process experiences of child sexual abuse (CSA). The current study builds on our prior work identifying individual differences in CSA processing strategies (i.e., Constructive, Absorbed, Avoidant) to examine whether abuse stigmatization, PTSD symptoms, and negative reactions from others experienced during the year after abuse discovery were associated with subsequent CSA processing strategies. Method: Participants included 160 ethnically diverse youth (8–15 years, 73% female) with confirmed cases of CSA. Predictors were measured at abuse discovery (T1) and 1 year later (T2). Individual differences in CSA processing strategies were assessed 6 years after discovery (T3) from participants’ abuse narratives. Results: The persistence of abuse stigmatization from T1 to T2 significantly increased the odds of using either an Avoidant or Absorbed (vs. Constructive) strategy at T3. Higher levels of PTSD symptoms at T1 as well as their persistence from T1 to T2 each significantly increased the odds of having an Absorbed versus Constructive strategy. The persistence of perceived negative reactions from others from T1 toT2 increased the odds of an Absorbed versus Avoidant strategy. Effect sizes ranged from medium to large (M d = 0.636). Conclusions: Results further validate prior work identifying distinct CSA processing strategies and suggest the persistence of abuse-specific disruptions over the year after abuse discovery may be associated with subsequent problems processing CSA experiences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 27, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0038264   open full text
• Individual- and community-level predictors of victimization frequency in a sample of women exposed to IPV.
  Miller-Graff, Laura E.; Graham-Bermann, Sandra A.
  Psychology of Violence. October 27, 2014
  Objective: The current study examines individual and community factors related to increased frequency of victimization in a sample of women with a history of intimate partner violence (IPV). The identification of unique and interactive associations of community- and individual-level factors and IPV frequency is rarely examined but may assist in developing services that are sensitive to the social-ecological context. Method: Women exposed to IPV in the past 2 years were interviewed (n = 120). Information about the communities in which they resided was drawn from the United States and Canadian censuses. Multilevel analyses nested women within their communities and examined the relationship of individual and community factors to frequency of victimization. Results: Individual income, age, and educational attainment were negatively related to IPV frequency, with lowest victimization frequency for women living in communities with high educational attainment and income. Conclusions: It may be especially useful for organizations to focus on increased service delivery in under-resourced communities. Further, because young and low-income women are more likely to report increased frequency of violence, it may be helpful for clinicians to consider cohort-appropriate intervention methods and instrumental supports that reflect the specific needs of these women, such as employment support, child-care access, and financial management. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 27, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0038176   open full text
• Associations among county-level social determinants of health, child maltreatment, and emotional support on health-related quality of life in adulthood.
  Barile, John P.; Edwards, Valerie J.; Dhingra, Satvinder S.; Thompson, William W.
  Psychology of Violence. October 27, 2014
  [Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported in Vol 5(2) of Psychology of Violence (see record 2015-04307-001). Data in Table 2 were incorrectly reported in the “Obtain needed support” column for the country-level predictors unemployment rate and median income. No corrections to the text were needed. The correct data are presented in the erratum.] Objective: This study determined whether county-level social determinants of health and adverse childhood experiences (ACE) were associated with emotional support and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adulthood. This study represents the largest population-based investigation on ACE to include county-level indicators of the social ecology. Method: We used data from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey (29,212 adults from 5 states) and the American Community Survey (2010; 304 counties). Multilevel structural equation models were employed to test direct and indirect associations between county-level social determinants of health, ACEs and indicators of adult HRQOL. Results: At the individual level, ACEs were associated with lower emotional support, and lower emotional support was associated with worse physical and mental HRQOL. Parental divorce was associated with better mental HRQOL for individuals who reported ≥2 forms of childhood maltreatment and/or negative household environments during childhood. At the county-level, low median income and high county-level unemployment were associated with low emotional support, and high median income and high unemployment were directly associated with poor physical and mental HRQOL. Conclusion: Findings from this study suggest that intervention efforts designed to promote positive emotional supports for adults who have experienced ACEs, particularly for those living in disadvantaged counties, may ameliorate potential health consequences during adulthood. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 27, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0038202   open full text
• Measuring bystander behavior to prevent sexual violence: Moving beyond self reports.
  Jouriles, Ernest N.; Kleinsasser, Anne; Rosenfield, David; McDonald, Renee.
  Psychology of Violence. October 27, 2014
  Objective: This study presents an evaluation of a novel procedure designed to measure bystander behavior to prevent sexual violence. Method: Ninety-one college students participated in simulations conducted in an immersive virtual environment. The simulations were designed to elicit and allow measurement of bystander behavior in situations that could presumably escalate to sexual violence. Participants also completed self-report measures of responsibility for intervening, efficacy for intervening, and intent to intervene. In addition, self-reported bystander behavior was assessed approximately 2 months later. Results: Bystander behavior in the simulations was positively correlated with (a) responsibility for intervening, (b) efficacy for intervening, (c) intent to intervene, and (d) self-reported bystander behavior. Conclusion: Our findings support the validity of this virtual simulation procedure and lay the groundwork for future research designed to evaluate effects of bystander intervention programs and to study determinants of bystander behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 27, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0038230   open full text
• Assessment of children and youth in child protective services out-of-home care: An overview of trauma measures.
  Milne, Lise; Collin-Vézina, Delphine.
  Psychology of Violence. October 27, 2014
  Objective: Research confirms that many children and youth in child protective services (CPS) out-of-home care (OHC) have experienced multiple and often traumatic events that can lead to a variety of detrimental outcomes. Few CPS agencies have adopted standardized, trauma-focused assessment procedures, resulting in a gap in the provision of trauma-focused mental health services. The objective of this article is to propose a compendium of trauma-focused, evidence-based measures geared toward children and youth in OHC that can feasibly be incorporated into routine CPS practice. Method: Using a 4-stage search strategy, 9 measures designed to collect information on trauma exposure, trauma-related symptoms, and related behaviors were recommended based on desirable psychometric properties and practical considerations. Results: Although a plethora of measures exist to assess children and youth, a variety of measures geared toward the trauma-specific needs of children and youth in OHC are presented that demonstrate satisfactory psychometric properties and are considered feasible for implementation by CPS. Conclusion: This article fills a gap for children and youth in CPS OHC by proposing a compendium of measures suitable for a standardized, trauma-focused assessment procedure specifically aimed at this vulnerable population, which can serve as a catalyst for the development of specialized, trauma-focused services. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 27, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037865   open full text
• Assessing urban African American youths’ exposure to community violence through a daily sampling method.
  Richards, Maryse H.; Romero, Edna; Zakaryan, Arie; Carey, Devin; Deane, Kyle; Quimby, Dakari; Patel, Nisha; Burns, Maureen.
  Psychology of Violence. October 27, 2014
  Objective: The traditional use of retrospective self-report to measure exposure to community violence over long periods of time has limitations overcome by an approach described here. This article explores an innovative approach in assessing community violence exposure with time-sampling methodology, where reporting occurs within daily accounts to provide a more immediate measure of community violence exposure. Method: Data were collected over 1 week from 169 urban African American young adolescents (M age = 11.7 years, SD = .70, 62% female) using questionnaires and the Daily Sampling Method, a diary technique that captures a child’s daily accounts of community violence exposure (DCVE). Results: Analyses revealed youth experienced 841 total violent incidents, or close to 1 daily incident per youth for the week. As expected, the majority of incidents occurred between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and in public settings. Unexpectedly, higher rates of both victimization and witnessing occurred during weekdays compared with weekend days, and girls reported significantly more DCVE than boys. The DCVE provide a unique glimpse into the more immediate experience of life in high-risk neighborhoods. Conclusion: This study underscores the need to measure DCVE in ways that address the daily experience of youth living in high-risk environments. By identifying timing and location of exposure, we can develop interventions to keep youth safer from violence exposure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 27, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0038115   open full text
• Examination of the factorial structure of adverse childhood experiences and recommendations for three subscale scores.
  Ford, Derek C.; Merrick, Melissa T.; Parks, Sharyn E.; Breiding, Matthew J.; Gilbert, Leah K.; Edwards, Valerie J.; Dhingra, Satvinder S.; Barile, John P.; Thompson, William W.
  Psychology of Violence. October 06, 2014
  Objective: The purpose of the current investigation is to assess and validate the factor structure of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System’s (BRFSS) Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) module. Method: ACE data available from the 2009 BRFSS survey were fit using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to estimate an initial factorial structure. The exploratory solution was then validated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with data from the 2010 BRFSS survey. Lastly, ACE factors were tested for measurement invariance using multiple group factor analysis. Results: EFA results suggested that a 3-factor solution adequately fit the data. Examination of factor loadings and item content suggested the factors represented the following construct areas: Household Dysfunction, Emotional/Physical Abuse, and Sexual Abuse. Subsequent CFA results confirmed the 3-factor solution and provided preliminary support for estimation of an overall latent ACE score summarizing the responses to all available items. Measurement invariance was supported across both gender and age. Conclusions: Results of this study provides support for the use of the current ACE module scoring algorithm, which uses the sum of the number of items endorsed to estimate exposure. However, the results also suggest potential benefits to estimating 3 separate composite scores to estimate the specific effects of exposure to Household Dysfunction, Emotional/Physical Abuse, and Sexual Abuse. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 06, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037723   open full text
• Advancing the measurement of violence: Challenges and opportunities.
  Grych, John; Hamby, Sherry.
  Psychology of Violence. October 06, 2014
  Our understanding of the causes and consequences of violence depends on accurately defining and measuring the constructs we study. Although the methods used most often in violence research have led to a wealth of important findings, the field is ripe for both reflection and innovation. The purpose of this special issue is to highlight critical measurement issues in the study of violence and to describe innovative approaches that will move this research forward. In this Introduction to the special issue, we identify 3 challenges for the valid measurement of violence—defining constructs, accurately capturing responses in scoring, and diversifying measurement methods—and discuss how the 8 studies that constitute the issue address these challenges and identify promising directions for future work. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 06, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037886   open full text
• The relation between borderline personality disorder features and teen dating violence.
  Reuter, Tyson R.; Sharp, Carla; Temple, Jeff R.; Babcock, Julia C.
  Psychology of Violence. September 22, 2014
  Objective: Teen dating violence (TDV) is a serious social problem with significant physical and emotional consequences. A number of theoretical models have identified several factors associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) among adults, including the role of Axis II features such as borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, little is known about borderline features and intimate partner violence among adolescents (i.e., TDV). The present study is the first to investigate the relation between TDV and borderline features in adolescents, taking into account important additional correlates of TDV at the cross-sectional level. Method: An ethnically diverse sample of 778 adolescents completed self-report measures of dating violence, borderline features, alcohol use, and exposure to interparental violence. Results: Borderline features made independent contributions to both TDV victimization and perpetration. The association between borderline features and TDV victimization was moderated by gender, and when considering severe violence, gender moderated the relation between borderline features and both TDV victimization and perpetration. Conclusions: Borderline features should be considered in the assessment, prevention, and intervention of TDV and vice versa. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  September 22, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037891   open full text
• Online administration of questionnaires assessing psychological, physical, and sexual aggression: Establishing psychometric equivalence.
  Brock, Rebecca L.; Barry, Robin A.; Lawrence, Erika; Rolffs, Jaci; Cerretani, Jodi; Zarling, Amie.
  Psychology of Violence. September 22, 2014
  Objective: The study of intimate partner violence has long been a funding priority and a focus of research, necessitating the assessment of aggression with large samples. In response, online assessment has become increasingly common, particularly when studying college students. However, it is unclear whether measures of partner aggression can be reliably and validly administered online. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the psychometric equivalence of written and Internet formats of questionnaires commonly used in the study of partner aggression to inform researchers considering a transition to online data collection. Method: Self-report questionnaires assessing psychological and physical aggression as well as measures of related interpersonal and intrapersonal constructs were administered to 169 young adults in committed dating relationships. The same measures were administered twice via written and/or online methods over a 2-week period. Method order was counterbalanced among participants and temporal stability was controlled. Results: Measures of aggression generally demonstrated psychometric equivalence across methods with few exceptions. Conclusions: Results support the use of online versions of the CTS2 and MDEAS, and highlight the utility of collecting aggression data online. Results suggest that participants may provide more reliable and dependable responses under conditions of perceived anonymity afforded by online administration of aggression questionnaires. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  September 22, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037835   open full text
• Does child abuse and neglect increase risk for perpetration of violence inside and outside the home?
  Milaniak, Izabela; Widom, Cathy Spatz.
  Psychology of Violence. September 22, 2014
  Objective: To examine the extent to which abused and neglected children perpetrate 3 different types of violence within and outside the home (criminal violence, child abuse, and intimate partner violence) and determine whether childhood maltreatment leads to an increased risk for poly-violence perpetration. Method: Using data from a prospective cohort design study, children (ages 0–11) with documented histories of physical and sexual abuse and/or neglect (n = 676) were matched with children without such histories (n = 520) and assessed in young adulthood (average age 29). Official criminal records in conjunction with self-report data were used to assess violent outcomes. Results: Compared with the control group, individuals with histories of child abuse and/or neglect were significantly more likely to be poly-violence perpetrators, perpetrating violence in all 3 domains (relative risk = 1.26). All forms of childhood maltreatment (physical and sexual abuse and neglect) significantly predicted poly-violence perpetration. Conclusions: These findings expand the cycle of violence literature by combining the distinct literatures on criminal violence, child abuse, and partner violence to call attention to the phenomenon of poly-violence perpetration by maltreated children. Future research should examine the characteristics of maltreated children who become poly-violence perpetrators and mechanisms that lead to these outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  September 22, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037956   open full text
• Do friends really help friends? The effect of relational factors and perceived severity on bystander perception of sexual violence.
  Bennett, Sidney; Banyard, Victoria L.
  Psychology of Violence. September 01, 2014
  Objective: A growing body of literature has examined the ways that bystander intervention can be helpful for situations involving sexual violence. The current study examined the little researched questions of how the relationship between the bystander and the victim and the bystander and the perpetrator impacts bystander perceptions (whether the situation is a problem and how safe it would be to intervene). Method: In the present study, 545 undergraduate students were randomly assigned by gender to vignettes (low and high severity) in which they had a relationship with the victim (stranger or friend) and a relationship with the perpetrator (stranger or friend). Participants were asked to fill out questionnaires about bystander perceptions (i.e., whether they perceived the situation as a problem, whether they felt the situation was safe to intervene). Results: The relationship with the victim and/or the perpetrator differentially impacted bystander perceptions, such that having a relationship with the victim was associated with more positive bystander perceptions whereas having a relationship with the perpetrator was mixed. Moreover, consistent with prior research, participants identified the situation as more of a problem and less safe to intervene in the high severity than the low severity condition. Conclusions: Bystander intervention programs aimed at preventing sexual violence need to include content that helps participants think through how they would handle situations where victims and/or perpetrator are known to them. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

  September 01, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037708   open full text
• Studying sexual aggression: A review of the evolution and validity of laboratory paradigms.
  Davis, Kelly Cue; Parrott, Dominic J.; George, William H.; Tharp, Andra Teten; Hall, Gordon C. Nagayama; Stappenbeck, Cynthia A.
  Psychology of Violence. August 18, 2014
  Objective: Researchers have endeavored for decades to develop and implement experimental assessments of sexual aggression and its precursors to capitalize on the many scientific advantages offered by laboratory experiments, such as rigorous control of key variables and identification of causal relationships. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of and commentary on the evolution of these laboratory-based methods. Conclusions: To date, two primary types of sexual aggression laboratory studies have been developed: those that involve behavioral analogues of sexual aggression and those that assess postulated precursors to sexually aggressive behavior. Although the study of sexual aggression in the laboratory is fraught with methodological challenges, validity concerns, and ethical considerations, advances in the field have resulted in greater methodological rigor, more precise dependent measures, and improved experimental validity, reliability, and realism. Because highly effective sexual aggression prevention strategies remain elusive, continued laboratory-based investigation of sexual aggression coupled with translation of critical findings to the development and modification of sexual aggression prevention programs remains an important task for the field. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 18, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037662   open full text
• Experimental evaluation of a bystander prevention program for sexual assault and dating violence.
  Palm Reed, Kathleen M.; Hines, Denise A.; Armstrong, Jessica L.; Cameron, Amy Y.
  Psychology of Violence. August 18, 2014
  Objective: Emerging evidence suggests that bystander prevention programs are promising interventions for decreasing sexual violence (SV) and dating violence (DV) on college campuses, yet there have been no experimental evaluations to date comparing such programs with other programs. The objective of the current study was to test whether a bystander program was better than a traditional psychoeducation violence prevention program. Method: We present an exploratory experimental evaluation of a bystander prevention program compared with a traditional psychoeducation program. Results: Both programs improved rape myth acceptance and knowledge scores. There was also a trend suggesting the bystander group improved in bystander efficacy over time, with a slight decrease in bystander efficacy for the traditional psychoeducation group. Conclusions: Current findings suggest that the modified bystander program may be an effective prevention program; however, it is unclear whether it is superior to other approaches. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 18, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037557   open full text
• Construct validity of the Conflict Tactics Scales: A mixed-method investigation of women’s intimate partner violence.
  Lehrner, Amy; Allen, Nicole E.
  Psychology of Violence. August 18, 2014
  Objective: The Conflict Tactics Scales 2 (CTS; Straus, Hamby, Boney-McCoy, & Sugarman, 1996) is the most widely used measure of intimate partner violence (IPV), and it consistently indicates high rates of IPV by young women in dating relationships. However, the CTS has been criticized for not assessing the context of the acts it measures. This study undertook a mixed-method investigation of women’s IPV, incorporating both the CTS and in-depth interviews, to contextualize women’s CTS reports of their use of violence against dating partners. Method: Four hundred seventy-six female undergraduates who had been in a heterosexual dating relationship in the past year completed the CTS. Women were then purposively recruited for follow-up interviews in a balanced design across 4 groups defined by self-reports of IPV perpetration on the CTS, ranging from none to severe and/or frequent violence. Thirty-four women completed interviews. Results: Although women’s CTS reports were consistent with rates reported in the literature, there were discrepancies with the interview data. Findings indicate that women report endorsing acts of playful wrestling/fighting (i.e., “roughhousing”) and mock violence on the CTS, and that such behavior is common among undergraduate women. The directionality of IPV identified by the CTS was also inconsistent with interview data. Conclusions: The CTS may potentially miscategorize acts and individuals and inflate estimates of the frequency and severity of women’s IPV in young, dating, nonclinical samples. Research and clinical implications include the need for clearer definitions of the construct of IPV and the development of alternative or complementary assessment measures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 18, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037404   open full text
• Measuring sexual aggression perpetration in college men: A comparison of two measures.
  Testa, Maria; Hoffman, Joseph H.; Lucke, Joseph F.; Pagnan, Colleen E.
  Psychology of Violence. August 18, 2014
  [Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported in Vol 5(3) of Psychology of Violence (see record 2015-20491-001). In the Advance online publication of this article, there are errors in the Results and Discussion sections. The corrected information is provided.] Objective: The present study was designed to provide a comparison of rates of self-reported sexual aggression perpetration obtained using 2 different measures—a version of the Sexual Experiences Survey (SES; Abbey, Parkhill, Clinton-Sherrod, & Zawacki, 2007; Koss, Gidycz, & Wisniewski, 1987) and the Sexual Strategies Scale (SSS, Strang, Peterson, Hill, & Heiman, 2013; Struckman-Johnson, Struckman-Johnson, & Anderson, 2003). We also examined the psychometric structure of each measure using Rasch model item analysis (Rasch, 1966). Method: Two equivalent cohorts of entering freshman males (n = 994 and n = 1043) from a large northeastern university completed online measures at the end of their first semester. Results: Identical proportions of men reported using intoxication strategies (3%) and physical force (1%) during the past semester on both measures. More men reported verbal strategies on the SSS (7.8%) compared with the SES (3.7%), even when restricting to equivalent items. Rasch analysis suggested that the SSS conformed better to a unidimensional continuum of perpetration severity than the SES; however, Rasch analysis did not provide definitive support for either a tactic-based (SSS) or a tactic-plus-outcome–based (SES) hierarchy. Conclusions: Both measures functioned adequately. However, the SSS may be preferred for its better Rasch properties, better assessment of the less severe tactics, and simpler wording. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 18, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037584   open full text
• Measurement of intimate partner violence: A model for developing the gold standard.
  Follingstad, Diane R.; Bush, Heather M.
  Psychology of Violence. August 18, 2014
  Objectives: To present the rationale and arguments behind the proposition that the field of intimate partner violence (IPV) would greatly benefit from developing gold standard instrumentation that would be expected to advance this field of scientific inquiry and to propose a phased model for accomplishing the development of such instrumentation. Method: A summary critique of historical controversies in the measurement of IPV is presented and ongoing problems with assessment specific to IPV are raised. Current difficulties with measurement of the current structures of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse are delineated. The argument is made for measurement that demonstrates improvement over current instrumentation that would be used consistently by researchers in the field. Adapting existing models of phased trials and a task force with working groups to establish psychosocial constructs through empirically based consensus, a working plan is proposed to develop instrumentation that would exist as the gold standard instrumentation for IPV assessment. Conclusion: The creation of better validated measurement tools for the assessment of intimate partner abuse within intimate relationships would result in increased understanding of research findings, enhance comparability of research, increase credibility within the field, and produce a replicable working strategy for developing gold standard measurement in comparable fields. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 18, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037515   open full text
• Women’s stress, depression, and relationship adjustment profiles as they relate to intimate partner violence and mental health during pregnancy and postpartum.
  Flanagan, Julianne C.; Gordon, Kristina Coop; Moore, Todd M.; Stuart, Gregory L.
  Psychology of Violence. August 11, 2014
  Objective: This study applied latent class analysis to examine whether homogeneous subgroups of women emerged based on their self-reported stress, depression, and relationship adjustment during pregnancy. We also examined whether women in different groups experienced different intimate partner violence (IPV) and mental health symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum. Method: One hundred eighty women completed assessments during the first 18 weeks of pregnancy, and 122 completed follow-up assessments 6 weeks postpartum. Results: A 2-class solution best fit the data. One group reported higher mean stress and depression and poorer relationship adjustment compared with the other group. The high severity class reported more psychological IPV victimization and perpetration and more physical IPV victimization during pregnancy compared with the low severity class. Membership in the high severity class was associated with higher postpartum depression. Conclusions: Findings highlight the associations between different profiles of mental and relational health during pregnancy and postpartum. Future studies should explore the utility of dyadic interventions aimed at reducing stress, depression, and IPV, and improving relationship adjustment as a means to improve women’s health during pregnancy and postpartum. These findings also highlight the potential utility of applying person-centered analytic approaches to the study of women’s and couples’ health during this time period. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 11, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0036895   open full text
• How to score the Sexual Experiences Survey? A comparison of nine methods.
  Davis, Kelly Cue; Gilmore, Amanda K.; Stappenbeck, Cynthia A.; Balsan, Michael J.; George, William H.; Norris, Jeanette.
  Psychology of Violence. August 11, 2014
  Objective: Although assessments of sexual assault victimization and perpetration have greatly improved, current scoring methods do not fully utilize the wealth of information they provide. The present studies assessed new methods for scoring sexual assault severity using the Sexual Experiences Survey (SES; Koss et al., 2007). Method: In 2 studies of female (n = 436) and male (n = 313) nonproblem drinkers who had engaged in unprotected sex within the past year, we compared 3 severity-ranking schemes, as well as 3 scoring methods per severity scheme for a total of 9 scoring methods. New severity-ranking schemes considered tactic types separately, varied combinations of assault outcomes, and accounted for multiple types and frequencies of assaults. Measures assessing convergent validity were also administered. Results: Seventy-eight percent (n = 340) of the women reported victimization, and 58% (n = 180) of the men reported perpetration. All severity scoring methods were strongly associated with convergent measures. Conclusions: Each scoring method is viable; however, especially among samples with greater victimization/perpetration rates, there can be advantages to incorporating multiple types and frequencies of assault experiences into SES scores. Recent refinements of the SES necessitate commensurate improvements in its scoring methods in order to significantly advance the field of sexual assault assessment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 11, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037494   open full text
• Breaking the vicious cycle of media violence use and aggression: A test of intervention effects over 30 months.
  Krahé, Barbara; Busching, Robert.
  Psychology of Violence. August 11, 2014
  Objective: This study examined the sustained efficacy of a media violence intervention in reducing media violence use, normative acceptance of aggression, and aggressive behavior in adolescents. It used an experimental design to evaluate the effects of the intervention over a period of 30 months. Method: N = 627 German 7th and 8th graders were assigned to a 5-week school-based intervention to reduce media violence use or to a no-intervention control group. Media violence use, normative acceptance of aggression, and aggressive behavior were measured 3 months before the intervention (T1), 7 months post intervention (T2), and at 2 follow-ups 18 (T3) and 30 (T4) months after the intervention. This article focuses on the findings from the 2 follow-ups. Results: Controlling for baseline levels and various demographic covariates, media violence use at T2, T3, and T4 and self-reported physical aggression at T3 were significantly lower in the intervention group, and the indirect path from the intervention to T3 aggression via T2 media violence use was significant. Lower T2 media violence use predicted lower T3 normative acceptance of aggression among participants with lower initial aggression. No effects on nonviolent media use and relational aggression were observed. Conclusion: The findings show that a short class-based intervention can produce lasting changes in media violence use that are linked to a decrease in aggression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 11, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0036627   open full text
• Social reactions, self-blame, and problem drinking in adult sexual assault survivors.
  Sigurvinsdottir, Rannveig; Ullman, Sarah E.
  Psychology of Violence. August 11, 2014
  Objective: The purpose of this study was to test a model of the relations of social reactions to sexual assault disclosure, self-blame, and problem drinking. This is the first study to investigate whether type of self-blame has different relationships with social reactions and problem drinking in a large, diverse sample of sexually assaulted women. These relationships are important to investigate to identify specific targets for treatment and intervention with sexual assault victims and their social networks. Method: Community-residing female sexual assault survivors (N = 1,863) in a large metropolitan area completed a mail survey about sexual assault, social reactions to disclosure, self-blame attributions, and problem drinking symptoms. Results: Structural equation modeling showed that characterological self-blame mediated the effect of negative social reactions on drinking, but behavioral self-blame did not function as a mediator. A second model showed unique relationships of specific positive and negative social reactions to drinking through characterological and behavioral self-blame. Conclusions: Characterological self-blame needs to be targeted in treatment and intervention with survivors, as it appears to be a key mechanism through which social reactions may influence recovery. Secondary prevention with informal social networks should educate people about social reactions to avoid negative reactions and promote those that are helpful so that people can better respond to survivors’ sexual assault disclosures and improve recovery. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 11, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0036316   open full text
• An online bystander intervention program for the prevention of sexual violence.
  Kleinsasser, Anne; Jouriles, Ernest N.; McDonald, Renee; Rosenfield, David.
  Psychology of Violence. August 11, 2014
  Objective: Because of its high prevalence and serious consequences for victims, sexual violence is a significant problem on college campuses. Sexual assault prevention programs based on the bystander intervention model have been shown to be effective; however, current programs are limited in terms of ease of distribution. To address this issue, we developed and evaluated “Take Care,” an online bystander intervention program. To our knowledge, this is the first empirical evaluation of an online bystander intervention program designed to prevent sexual violence. Method: Ninety-three participants (80.6% female, 19.4% male) recruited from social psychology classes at a midsize university were randomly assigned to view 1 of 2 online programs: Take Care or a control program on study skills. Before viewing the programs, participants completed measures of bystander behaviors and feelings of efficacy for performing such behaviors. Measures were administered again postintervention and at a 2-month follow-up assessment. Results: Participants who viewed Take Care reported greater efficacy for engaging in bystander behaviors at postintervention and 2 months after treatment, compared with those who viewed the control program. In addition, participants who viewed Take Care reported performing relatively more bystander behaviors for friends at the 2-month follow-up assessment, compared with participants who viewed the control program. Conclusions: These results suggest that sexual violence prevention programs may be effectively adapted to an online format. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 11, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037393   open full text
• Daily reports of intimate partner verbal aggression by self and partner: Short-term consequences and implications for measurement.
  Derrick, Jaye L.; Testa, Maria; Leonard, Kenneth E.
  Psychology of Violence. August 11, 2014
  Objective: Agreement within couples regarding the occurrence of aggression is surprisingly low. Survey research often collapses across partners’ reports to create a pooled estimate of aggression in the relationship. This method ignores possible differences in partners’ perceptions of the event, potentially weakening researchers’ ability to detect consequences of aggression. The current study examines both partners’ reports of verbal aggression to determine whether aggression reported by only 1 partner influences both partners’ short-term outcomes. Method: We used a 56-day daily diary to examine the effect of verbal aggression on short-term negative outcomes. We examined whether aggression reported by either partner is sufficient to predict consequences for both partners, or whether an individual must report aggression to experience consequences. Results: Victims’ reports of receiving verbal aggression were a better predictor of next day victim consequences than perpetrators’ reports. Perpetrators’ reports of perpetrating verbal aggression were a better predictor of next-day perpetrator consequences than victims’ reports. Days when partners agreed that aggression had occurred generally predicted the worst outcomes. Conclusions: People’s own reports of verbal aggression are the best predictor of short-term consequences. Pooling partner reports of aggression may make it more difficult to understand the consequences of intimate partner aggression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 11, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037481   open full text
• Effects of alcohol and sexual prejudice on aggression toward sexual minorities.
  Parrott, Dominic J.; Lisco, Claire G.
  Psychology of Violence. August 11, 2014
  Objective: This study was the first to test the moderating effect of acute alcohol intoxication on the relation between heterosexual men’s sexual prejudice and perpetration of aggression toward gay men and lesbians. Method: Participants were 320 heterosexual men aged 21–30 recruited from a large southeastern United States city. Participants completed a measure of prejudice toward sexual minorities and were randomly assigned to 1 of 8 experimental groups within a 2 (Beverage: Alcohol, No-Alcohol Control) × 2 (Opponent Gender: Male, Female) × 2 (Opponent Sexual Orientation: Homosexual, Heterosexual) design. Following beverage consumption, participants were provoked via reception of electric shocks from a fictitious opponent. Participants’ physical aggression was measured using a shock-based aggression task. Results: The association between sexual prejudice and aggression toward the gay male opponent was stronger among intoxicated, relative to sober, participants. This pattern of association was not observed among participants who competed against the heterosexual male, heterosexual female, or lesbian opponent. Conclusions: Findings provide the first experimental evidence that alcohol intoxication moderates sexually prejudiced aggression toward gay men. These data offer a first step toward understanding how alcohol facilitates bias-motivated aggression. Such knowledge contributes to the empirical foundation needed to guide the development of interventions for alcohol-related aggression toward sexual minorities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 11, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037479   open full text
• Beyond anger control: Difficulty attending to emotions also predicts aggression in offenders.
  Roberton, Terri; Daffern, Michael; Bucks, Romola S.
  Psychology of Violence. August 11, 2014
  Objective: The influence of anger experience, expression, and control on aggressive behavior has been the focus of much theoretical and empirical attention. The influence of other emotions and emotional processing facets on aggression has received less consideration. This study sought to determine whether failing to attend to upsetting emotions, including anger, is associated with aggression, beyond the effects of poor anger control. Method: Participants (n = 64) were criminal offenders who were mandated to attend Community Corrections Offices across Melbourne, Australia. Participants completed measures of anger experience, expression and control, attention to emotions, past aggression, and verbal intelligence. Results: Results indicate that participants reporting difficulty attending to their emotions had more extensive histories of aggression than those who did not report such difficulties. This relationship remained significant even after controlling for trait anger and the ability to control the outward expression of anger. Conclusions: These findings are discussed in the context of current approaches to violent offender treatment. In particular, it is recommended that intervention programs should seek to emphasize the importance of controlling aggressive behavior in the face of anger, while attending to (rather than avoiding or suppressing) the anger experience itself. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 11, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037214   open full text
• Autonomy and relatedness in mother–teen interactions as predictors of involvement in adolescent dating aggression.
  Niolon, Phyllis Holditch; Kuperminc, Gabriel P.; Allen, Joseph P.
  Psychology of Violence. August 11, 2014
  Objective: This multimethod longitudinal study examines the negotiation of autonomy and relatedness between teens and their mothers as etiologic predictors of perpetration and victimization of dating aggression 2 years later. Method: Observations of 87 mid-adolescents and their mothers discussing a topic of disagreement were coded for each individual’s demonstrations of autonomy and relatedness using a validated coding system. Adolescents self-reported on perpetration and victimization of physical and psychological dating aggression 2 years later. We hypothesized that mothers’ and adolescents’ behaviors supporting autonomy and relatedness would longitudinally predict lower reporting of dating aggression, and that their behaviors inhibiting autonomy and relatedness would predict higher reporting of dating aggression. Results: Hypotheses were not supported; main findings were characterized by interactions of sex and risk status with autonomy. Maternal behaviors supporting autonomy predicted higher reports of perpetration and victimization of physical dating aggression for girls, but not for boys. Adolescent behaviors supporting autonomy predicted higher reports of perpetration of physical dating aggression for high-risk adolescents, but not for low-risk adolescents. Conclusions: Results indicate that autonomy is a dynamic developmental process, operating differently as a function of social contexts in predicting dating aggression. Examination of these and other developmental processes within parent–child relationships is important in predicting dating aggression, but may depend on social context. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 11, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0036557   open full text
• How does child abuse history influence parenting of the next generation?
  Ehrensaft, Miriam K.; Knous-Westfall, Heather M.; Cohen, Patricia; Chen, Henian.
  Psychology of Violence. August 11, 2014
  Objective: This study examines the prospective association of childhood abuse (physical and/or sexual abuse) with subsequent parenting practices in adulthood. Method: The sample is drawn from the Children in the Community Study, a prospective longitudinal study of children’s mental health development in a community sample of children followed for approximately 30 years. The study uses a multimethod, multiinformant design (self-report, parent report, and official records) incorporating data from 3 generations to examine the influence of childhood maltreatment on parenting practices at M age 33, and the mediating effects of adolescent conduct disorder at M age 15 and adult psychopathology at M age 22. Results: Sexual abuse predicted lower availability, time spent with the child, satisfaction with the child, and higher perceived ineffectiveness; physical abuse predicted higher perceived ineffectiveness; and dual abuse predicted lower availability and harsh discipline. Conduct disorder mediated the association of sexual abuse with satisfaction and dual abuse with availability, whereas generalized anxiety disorder mediated the association of sexual abuse with time spent with the child. Conclusions: These results suggest that some mothers and fathers with a history of child abuse may benefit from parenting interventions that address difficulties with emotional disengagement. Specific attention could be paid to assist these parents with emotional regulation strategies to maximize their emotional and physical engagement with their child, so as to increase their capacity for availability, time spent with the child, and parental self-efficacy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 11, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0036080   open full text
• Brothers and sisters in arms: Intergroup cooperation in a violent shooter game can reduce intergroup bias.
  Adachi, Paul J. C.; Hodson, Gordon; Willoughby, Teena; Zanette, Sarah.
  Psychology of Violence. August 11, 2014
  Objective: Video games increasingly have become multiplayer, and thus online video game players have the unique opportunity to cooperate with players from all over the world, including those who belong to different social groups. Consistent with research showing that intergroup cooperation leads to reductions in intergroup bias, playing a video game cooperatively with a member of a different social group (i.e., an outgroup member) may reduce bias. The goal of the current study, therefore, was to test whether playing a violent video game cooperatively with an outgroup member reduces intergroup bias toward that partner’s group. Method: In our investigation, Canadians (n = 138) played a violent video game cooperatively with an outgroup (American) or ingroup member against alien (i.e., zombie-like) enemies. Results: Cooperating with an outgroup member in a violent context for only 12 minutes generated large reductions in outgroup prejudice. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the potential for even violent video games to serve as prejudice interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 11, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037407   open full text
• A “dry eye” for victims of violence: Effects of playing a violent video game on pupillary dilation to victims and on aggressive behavior.
  Arriaga, Patrícia; Adrião, Joana; Madeira, Filipa; Cavaleiro, Inês; Maia e Silva, Alexandra; Barahona, Isabel; Esteves, Francisco.
  Psychology of Violence. August 11, 2014
  Objective: The present experiment analyzed the effects of playing a violent video game on player’s sensitivity to victimized people by measuring the involuntary pupil dilation responses (PDRs) during a passive picture viewing paradigm and examining the mediating role of PDR on aggression. Method: Participants (N = 135) were randomly assigned to play a violent video game or a nonviolent video game. The participants’ PDRs were then recorded while they were exposed to pictures of alleged victims of violence displayed in negative, neutral, and positive contexts. A competitive reaction time task was also used to measure aggression. Results: Participants in the violent game condition demonstrated both a lower PDR to the victims of violence in a negative circumstances and greater aggression than participants in the nonviolent game condition. Lower PDR to victims displayed in negative context mediated the relationship between violent game play and aggression. Conclusion: The negative effects of playing violent games are a societal concern. Our results indicate that a single violent gaming session can reduce the player’s involuntary PDRs to pictures of victimized people in negative context and increase participant aggression, a new relevant finding that should encourage further research in this area. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 11, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037260   open full text
• Cyberbullying among adolescents: Measures in search of a construct.
  Mehari, Krista R.; Farrell, Albert D.; Le, Anh-Thuy H.
  Psychology of Violence. August 11, 2014
  Objective: In this review we focus on the literature on cyberbullying among adolescents. Currently, there is no unified theoretical framework to move the field of cyberbullying forward. Due to some unique features of cyberbullying, researchers have generally assumed that it is distinct from aggression perpetrated in person. Many measures of cyberbullying have been developed based on this assumption rather than to test competing models and inform a theoretical framework for cyberbullying. Approach: We review current theory and research on cyberbullying within the context of the broader literature on aggression to explore the usefulness of the assumption that cyberbullying represents a distinct form of aggression. Associations between cyberbullying and general forms of aggression and psychosocial predictors of cyberbullying are discussed. Conclusions: Based on the empirical research, we suggest that the media through which aggression is perpetrated may be best conceptualized as a new dimension on which aggression can be classified, rather than cyberbullying as a distinct counterpart to existing forms of aggression. Research on cyberbullying should be considered within the context of theoretical and empirical knowledge of aggression in adolescence. Using this approach will create a theoretical framework for understanding cyberbullying, focus future research, and guide prevention efforts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 11, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037521   open full text
• Dyadic patterns of intimate partner violence in early marriage.
  Leonard, Kenneth E.; Winters, Jamie J.; Kearns-Bodkin, Jill N.; Homish, Gregory G.; Kubiak, Audrey J.
  Psychology of Violence. August 11, 2014
  Objective: Research examining dyadic patterns of intimate partner violence (IPV) often focuses on static conceptions based on whether either the husband or wife has exhibited any violence. This study examined the dyadic patterns of IPV empirically and traced how these groups change over time. Method: Couples (n = 634) were assessed with respect to IPV and relationship satisfaction at the time of marriage, and at their first and second anniversaries. Cluster analysis was conducted on Total Aggression, Differential Aggression, and the Aggression Ratio before marriage for couples with any violence. Results: This analysis revealed 5 clusters; Very High-Husband to Wife, (High:H>W); Very High-Wife to Husband (High-W>H); Low to Moderate, Husband to Wife (Low:H>W); Low to Moderate, Wife to Husband (Low-W>H); Low to Moderate, Both Aggressive (Low:H = W). The majority (57%) of the aggressive couples were classified in the gender asymmetric groups. Most asymmetric clusters became symmetric over time, but the High:H>W cluster became more asymmetric. By the 2nd anniversary, all clusters were characterized by higher injuries experienced by wives than by husbands. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that a considerable amount of IPV that is typically classified as “bidirectional” is gender asymmetric and that these asymmetric patterns tend to converge into more symmetric patterns over time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 11, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037483   open full text
• Best violence research of 2013: Selections from an invited panel of researchers.
  Radford, Lorraine; Abbey, Antonia; Sugarman, David; Rennison, Callie; Cuevas, Carlos A.
  Psychology of Violence. June 30, 2014
  Five senior researchers were invited by the journal editor Sherry Hamby to join a panel to identify the best violence research articles published in 2013. Each member of the panel describes how they methodically selected 2 articles that they believe represent the best violence research from the vast choice of publications produced in 2013. The 10 different articles chosen showcase different methodologies and cover a range of topics—working with men and boys, policing domestic violence, violence in LGBT relationships and in Hispanic communities, elder abuse, social support, violence in pregnancy, evolutionary psychology. Each reviewer gives an appreciation of the research articles they selected, outlining what they see as the key merits of the research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 30, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0037143   open full text
• Victimization, psychological distress, and help-seeking: Disentangling the relationship for Latina victims.
  Cuevas, Carlos A.; Bell, Kristin A.; Sabina, Chiara.
  Psychology of Violence. April 14, 2014
  Objective: The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the role of help-seeking on the victimization-psychological distress link. Specifically, we aim to determine whether help-seeking is associated with various forms of psychological distress among victims of interpersonal violence. Method: This study used data from the Sexual Assault Among Latinas (SALAS) Study, which surveyed 2,000 Latino women using random digit dial methodology, and queried participants about lifetime victimization, help-seeking behaviors associated with victimization, and psychological distress. Using linear regression with a subsample of the women who experienced victimization in adulthood (N = 242), we evaluated the association of victimization, cultural variables, formal help-seeking, and informal help-seeking on psychological distress. Subsequently, we also evaluated the relationship of each specific form of help-seeking on current psychological distress. Results: Results suggest that formal help-seeking but not informal help-seeking was associated with lower psychological distress among Latino women. Specifically, formal help-seeking was associated with decreased levels of current depression, anger, dissociation, and anxiety. When looking at specific forms of formal help-seeking, reporting to police was the main form of help-seeking associated with decreased levels of current psychological distress. Interaction effects also showed the victimization—anger relationship was stronger for those with higher Latino orientation that were neither of Mexican nor Cuban descent. Conclusion: The results support the importance of promoting formal help-seeking behaviors, particularly police reporting, as a way of decreasing the negative psychological impact of victimization. Among Latinas, cultural factors and ethnicity need to be taken into consideration to better understand help-seeking behaviors and emotional functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 14, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0035819   open full text
• Emotional abuse and its unique ecological correlates among military personnel and spouses.
  Foran, Heather M.; Heyman, Richard E.; Smith Slep, Amy M.
  Psychology of Violence. April 14, 2014
  Objective: Identify unique correlates of clinically significant emotional abuse (CS-EA) in a large representative U.S. sample of men and women. Method: Active duty members of the U.S. Air Force in relationships (N = 42,744) and civilian spouses (N = 17,266) from 82 bases worldwide completed an anonymous online survey on CS-EA, individual, family, community, and workplace risk factors. Results: Relationship dissatisfaction, poor self-efficacy, financial stress, and alcohol problems were among the strongest correlates of emotional abuse among the 21 factors examined. In addition, community factors such as support from neighbors and community cohesion independently related to men’s CS-EA, whereas workplace factors were uniquely related to victimization among active duty and civilian women. The strength of bivariate associations with CS-EA for several family, workplace, and community factors differed by military/civilian status, gender, and marital status, but overall ecological models replicated across gender. Conclusions: Although many workplace and community factors were related to CS-EA bivariately, only a select few were related after accounting for individual and family factors. CS-EA is an understudied but important public health problem and the current study helps to identify key correlates of CS-EA that can help inform prevention and treatment efforts aimed at reducing partner violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 14, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0034536   open full text
• Training and certification for domestic violence service providers: The need for a national standard curriculum and training approach.
  Stover, Carla Smith; Lent, Kimberly.
  Psychology of Violence. April 14, 2014
  Domestic violence (DV) continues to constitute an enormous public health problem in the United States. Knowledge and understanding of the complexities involved in DV has grown significantly in recent years revealing a need for providers who have broad training in a variety of legal, safety, developmental, and clinical issues that face families impacted by DV. This article reviews current approaches to training and the ability of such methods to adequately prepare providers. There are no national standards for providers at any level from DV advocates to batterer interventionists, to clinicians with the required hours of training in most states at an alarmingly low level. Few states require cross training for those working as victim advocates or batterer interventionists. The systems that currently provide segregated and limited training create silos of service that are less effective. A proposed set of standards and training guidelines are proposed for DV advocates, batterer interventionists, and clinicians along with a discussion of the implications of such standards for the field. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 14, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0036022   open full text
• Intervention following family violence: Best practices and helpseeking obstacles in a nationally representative sample of families with children.
  Hamby, Sherry; Finkelhor, David; Turner, Heather.
  Psychology of Violence. April 07, 2014
  Objective: To provide the first nationally representative data on service contact, police or advocate best practices, and helpseeking obstacles for family violence that involved exposure to children. Method: A nationally representative sample of 517 family violence incidents drawn from the 4,503 respondents to the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence II. Results: A range of 10 best practices were offered in 13–58% of police contacts and 34–97% of advocate contacts. Most police best practices were associated with increased likelihood of arrest. Referrals and information about restraining orders and shelter were associated with victim-perpetrator separation. There was marked case attrition for all criminal justice services, including reporting to police, in-person police responding, arrest, convictions, and incarceration. Only 10 cases resulted in jail time. Counter to hypothesis, higher rates of some police best practices were associated with lower likelihood of advocate contact. Also unexpectedly, higher rates of some obstacles, such as lack of transportation, were associated with higher use of police services. Conclusions: Referral to specific resources is recommended as a focus of crisis intervention efforts. Some family’s needs may be served by a single provider if best practices are used. Some obstacles may influence which services are sought rather than depress helpseeking altogether. These nationally representative data can be used as benchmarks for program evaluations and needs assessments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 07, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0036224   open full text
• Who to turn to? Help-seeking in response to teen dating violence among Latinos.
  Sabina, Chiara; Cuevas, Carlos A.; Rodriguez, Rosalie M.
  Psychology of Violence. April 07, 2014
  Objective: Though Latinos are the largest minority in the United States, they are not well represented in teen dating violence research. The current study fills this gap by using a national sample of Latino teens to examine 1) rates of formal and informal help-seeking among Latino teens who experienced dating violence, 2) reasons for not seeking help, and 3) cultural predictors of help-seeking (i.e., immigrant status, acculturation, and familism). Method: Data came from the Dating Violence among Latino Adolescents (DAVILA) study that surveyed 1,525 Latino teens and their caregivers across the United States, 6.2% (n = 95) of which experienced specific forms of physical, sexual and/or stalking dating violence. Telephone interviews were conducted with caregivers and their 12- to 18-year-old Latino teens. Results: Sixty-one percent of victims sought informal help (most commonly from friends) and 16% sought formal help (most commonly from school personnel). The most common reason for not seeking help was “I didn’t think of it.” Logistic regression analyses revealed that girls and those with higher scores on familism were more likely to seek formal help. Conclusions: Efforts to prevent dating violence and/or intervene in dating violence relationships need further development, including addressing the gendered nature of help-seeking, addressing barriers to services when needed, and building on strengths such as familism and positive social networks. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 07, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0035037   open full text
• Immediate and short-term reactions to participation in laboratory aggression research.
  Parrott, Dominic J.; Miller, Cameron A.; Hudepohl, Adam D.
  Psychology of Violence. April 07, 2014
  Objective: The present research assessed self-reported reactions to participation in a laboratory aggression paradigm immediately postexperiment and at 1-week follow-up. Method: Three hundred nineteen men completed a competitive laboratory aggression task that involved deception and mild electric shocks that were received from, and administered to, a fictitious opponent. Participants’ aggressive ideation was assessed immediately after participation, whereas their aggressive ideation and self-reported reactions to experimental procedures were assessed approximately 1 week later. Results: Participation did not increase respondents’ self-reported likelihood of engaging in aggressive behavior after completing the aggression task or at 1-week follow-up. The percentage of participants who reported inflicted insight was extremely low (approximately 1%), and this experience was associated with little distress. At 1-week follow-up, 98% of participants reported little or no adverse effects in response to the use of deception and electric shocks. Conclusion: The likelihood of adverse consequences in response to participation in laboratory aggression research is low. Of particular importance, participation is not associated with inflicted insight or an increased likelihood of engaging in aggression following participation. Findings may assist institutional review boards and researchers in making more informed analyses of the risks and benefits of laboratory aggression research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 07, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0035922   open full text
• Socioemotional adjustment as a mediator of the association between exposure to community violence and academic performance in low-income adolescents.
  Hardaway, Cecily R.; Larkby, Cynthia A.; Cornelius, Marie D.
  Psychology of Violence. April 07, 2014
  Objective: This study examines whether exposure to community violence is indirectly related to academic performance through anxious/depressed symptoms and delinquent behaviors. Method: Three hundred eighteen mothers and adolescents who participated in a longitudinal investigation were interviewed when adolescents were age 10, 14, and 16. Results: Community violence exposure at age 14 was significantly related to anxious/depressed symptoms and delinquent behaviors. Delinquent behaviors (but not anxious/depressed symptoms) were significantly associated with academic performance at age 16. Exposure to community violence was indirectly related to academic performance through delinquent behaviors. There was no significant indirect effect of exposure to community violence on academic performance through anxious/depressed symptoms. Covariates included sociodemographics and exposure to child abuse. Age 10 anxious/depressed symptoms, age 10 delinquent behaviors, and age 14 academic performance were also included in the model to control for preexisting differences in socioemotional adjustment and academic performance. Conclusions: Results suggest that exposure to community violence may initiate a cascade of problems that spread from behavior problems to declines in academic performance. Our results highlight the need for schools to consider exposure to community violence as 1 form of trauma and to transform in ways that make them more trauma sensitive. The use of trauma-sensitive practices that address the effects of violence exposure on youth may help limit the progression of adverse effects from delinquent behavior to other domains of functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 07, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0036375   open full text
• Motives for physical dating violence among college students: A gendered analysis.
  Kelley, Erika L.; Edwards, Katie M.; Dardis, Christina M.; Gidycz, Christine A.
  Psychology of Violence. April 07, 2014
  Objective: Little research examines factors contributing to specific motives for physical dating violence (DV) perpetration. This study explores this gap in the literature with a specific focus on gender, coping, DV perpetration and victimization, and attitudes toward violence. Method: The sample included 221 college students who reported a history of physical DV perpetration and completed surveys for course credit. Results: Physical DV motivated by emotional expression/dysregulation was associated with physical DV perpetration frequency and disengagement coping for the full sample, and associated with accepting attitudes toward physical DV among women only. Physical DV motivated by control/tough guise was associated with accepting attitudes toward physical DV for the full sample, and physical DV perpetration frequency more strongly for men than women. Physical DV motivated by self-defense was associated with disengagement coping for the full sample, DV perpetration frequency for men, and physical DV victimization frequency more strongly for women than men. Conclusion: Results suggest that DV prevention programming for college students should incorporate focus on coping skills and decreasing accepting attitudes of DV. Results also provide preliminary support for gender-specific tailoring of programs that incorporate emotion regulation and communication skills for women; and among men, deconstructing patriarchal values among frequent perpetrators. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 07, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0036171   open full text
• Helping victims of intimate partner violence: The influence of group norms among lay people and the police.
  Baldry, Anna Costanza; Pagliaro, Stefano.
  Psychology of Violence. April 07, 2014
  Objective: This study is a first attempt to manipulate group norms and assess their impact on willingness to help victims of intimate partner violence. Method: Two studies were conducted, the first involving 218 undergraduates who read a newspaper article extract describing an intimate partner violence case, followed by the manipulation of morality-based in-group norms: importance of providing help, support, and report (experimental group) versus doing nothing (control condition). Participants were asked about their willingness to help the victim. Study 2 was conducted with 216 police officers to test the effect of moral in-group norms on their willingness to arrest the alleged perpetrator and assist the victim. Results: Findings from both studies showed that respondents increased their willingness to help the victim and provide support when they strongly identified with the in-group. Conclusion: The decision to intervene to help the victim is based on high identification with own-group social norms, but only for those police and lay people who do identify with the reference group. These results are central for bystander intervention and awareness campaigns and training programs for police. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 07, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0034844   open full text
• The step-father effect in child abuse: Comparing discriminative parental solicitude and antisociality.
  Hilton, N. Zoe; Harris, Grant T.; Rice, Marnie E.
  Psychology of Violence. April 07, 2014
  Objective: The greater risk of abusing a step-child than a genetically related child has been attributed to discriminative parental solicitude. We tested whether it is better explained by antisociality, whereby more antisocial fathers are more likely both to have step-children and to be generally more violent. Method: We studied police reports of assaults on children by 387 domestically violent men who had a minor child, and their bivariate association with genetic relatedness, offender antisociality, and opportunity to assault step-children. In the subsample of 118 men with the opportunity to assault both step and genetically related children, we tested whether fathers were more likely to assault step-children, overall and among more antisocial men. Results: Number of step-children was associated with both child abuse and 2 of 3 measures of antisociality. When opportunity was controlled, fathers showed evidence of discriminative parental solicitude, being twice as likely to assault step-children as genetically related children. This step-father effect was observed at all levels of antisociality. Conclusion: Antisociality alone cannot explain the step-father effect. Discriminative parental solicitude remains a viable explanation for the step-father effect observed in this study. Research is needed to explore more proximal causes of the step-father effect. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 07, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0035189   open full text
• Facial emotion recognition accuracy and child physical abuse: An experiment and a meta-analysis.
  Wagner, Michael F.; Milner, Joel S.; McCarthy, Randy J.; Crouch, Julie L.; McCanne, Thomas R.; Skowronski, John J.
  Psychology of Violence. April 07, 2014
  Objective: To examine child facial emotion recognition accuracy (ERA) in high-risk for child physical abuse (CPA) parents and low-risk for CPA parents (Study 1) and to conduct a meta-analysis summarizing published research on the relationship between child facial ERA and CPA (Study 2). Method: In Study 1, ERA data for child facial emotions were obtained from mothers and fathers who were at high risk (n = 51) or low risk (n = 61) for CPA. In 1 of 2 presentation time conditions (100 ms, 600 ms), parents evaluated child photographs, taken from the Radboud Faces Database, which displayed 5 face emotions (angry, happy, sad, fearful, neutral) at 3 face angles (frontal, 45 degrees, 90 degrees). In Study 2, a meta-analysis of published studies was used to estimate the overall effect size of ERA differences between high-risk/abusive and comparison parents. Results: In Study 1, ERA differences were found for emotions (largest ERA for happiness), face angles (frontal > 45 degrees > 90 degrees), and presentation times (100 ms < 600 ms); however, only an overall trend for ERA risk group differences was observed. Nevertheless, the Study 2 meta-analyses revealed a significant effect size reflecting an overall moderate ERA difference between high-risk/abusive and comparison parents, and the effect size was not moderated by the population studied (high-risk parents vs. abusive parents). Conclusions: Because child facial ERA appears to be associated with CPA, the manner in which parental child emotion recognition errors contribute to problematic parent–child interactions merits additional study. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 07, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0036014   open full text
• Child behavior problems: Role of cocaine use, parenting, and child exposure to violence.
  Veira, Yvette; Finger, Brent; Schuetze, Pamela; Colder, Craig R.; Godleski, Stephanie; Eiden, Rina D.
  Psychology of Violence. April 07, 2014
  Objective: Studies examining the association between prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) and child behavior problems have yielded mixed results, suggesting a need to identify additional mediating and moderating influences. We hypothesized that the relation between PCE and behavior problems in kindergarten would be mediated/moderated by child exposure to violence and that maternal warmth/sensitivity and harshness would moderate the association between violence exposure and behavior problems. Methods: Participants consisted of 216 (116 cocaine-exposed and 100 noncocaine-exposed) mother-child dyads participating in an ongoing longitudinal study of PCE. Results: Results yielded no direct or mediated/moderated association between PCE and child behavior problems and no significant interaction effects between PCE and parenting quality. However, higher exposure to violence in kindergarten was significantly associated with higher child behavior problems. This association was moderated by maternal warmth/sensitivity and harshness. High maternal warmth/sensitivity buffered the association between violence exposure and behavior problems whereas high maternal harshness exacerbated this association. Conclusion: This study highlights the role of violence exposure in the development of behavior problems among high-risk children and emphasizes the significance of parenting quality in buffering or exacerbating this risk among these children. Implications for prevention include targeting the potential role of maternal warmth/sensitivity as a protective influence among children exposed to violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 07, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0036157   open full text
• Substance use disorders and intimate partner violence perpetration among male and female offenders.
  Crane, Cory A.; Oberleitner, Lindsay M. S.; Devine, Susan; Easton, Caroline J.
  Psychology of Violence. April 07, 2014
  Objective: The current investigation sought to examine the direct associations and interactions among individual and concurrent alcohol, cocaine, cannabis, and opioid use diagnoses with the perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV), as well as to assess gender differences across these associations within a large forensic sample of male and female offenders. Method: Participants (1,290 male and 294 female) completed a court-mandated substance abuse evaluation during which they completed a clinical interview, either endorsing or denying recent physical partner violence perpetration. Specific substance use disorders were diagnosed based primarily upon responses to the clinical interview and were used to predict partner violence perpetration using logistic regression. Results: Alcohol and cocaine use disorders were significantly associated with IPV perpetration over the past year. Cannabis and opioid use disorders were not directly associated with IPV. A comorbid alcohol use diagnosis increased the likelihood of IPV perpetration among participants with either a cannabis or a cocaine use disorder, whereas participants with an alcohol use disorder were less likely to be violent if they had also met criteria for a cannabis use disorder. These relationships held across men and women. Conclusions: The current findings emphasize the importance of assessing associations between specific substances of abuse in researching and predicting partner violence and suggest that future efforts focus on the development of integrated treatments for co-occurring partner violence and substance use disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 07, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0034338   open full text
• Risk factors for physical violence against partners in the U.S.
  O’Leary, K. Daniel; Tintle, Nathan; Bromet, Evelyn.
  Psychology of Violence. January 13, 2014
  Objective: To examine unique and relative predictive values of demographic, social learning, developmental, psychopathology, and dyadic variables as risk factors for perpetration of intimate partner physical aggression in a national sample of married or cohabiting individuals. Method: Men (n = 798) and women (n = 770) were selected from the public use data file of the 2003 National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R) which used a multistage cluster sampling design. Results: Eight percent of women and 5% of men reported perpetrating physical aggression in the past year. Based on multivariable regression analyses, among men, the unique risk factors for perpetrating physical aggression were parental violence, dating before age 14, dating aggression, Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) before and after age 20, and being victimized by partner. Among women, significant risk factors were younger age, dating aggression, IED before age 20, cohabiting, victimization by partner, and marital/relationship strain. Conclusions: A number of social learning, developmental, adult psychopathology, and dyadic factors were significant. Two dyadic variables, victimization and marital strain, had by far the strongest associations with perpetration of partner aggression. Given that dating aggression and early IED were risk factors for male and female IPV much later in life suggests early interventions for those at risk. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 13, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0034537   open full text
• Child sexual abuse and disordered eating: The mediating role of impulsive and compulsive tendencies.
  Dworkin, Emily; Javdani, Shabnam; Verona, Edelyn; Campbell, Rebecca.
  Psychology of Violence. January 13, 2014
  Objective: Child sexual abuse (CSA) victimization has been identified as one of many environmental risk factors for the later development of disordered eating, and empirical evidence suggests that the relationship between CSA victimization and disordered eating may be explained by a number of mediators. Indeed, it appears that CSA victimization may promote dysregulated behavioral control (i.e., impulsivity and compulsivity) as coping strategies for some survivors, which may in turn promote disordered eating behaviors, but no research to date has examined this relationship empirically in a single model. Thus, the current study examined impulsivity and compulsivity as mediators of the relationship between CSA victimization and distinct disordered eating behaviors. Method: Using structural equation modeling, this mediated relationship was explored in regards to the severity of self-reported CSA victimization and two main domains of disordered eating behaviors (i.e., binge eating, compensatory behaviors) in a large undergraduate nonclinical sample of men and women (N = 649). Results: Impulsivity and compulsivity together accounted for the effect of CSA victimization on binge eating (i.e., eating to excess) and compensatory behaviors (i.e., maladaptive behaviors meant to control weight; e.g., purging, laxative use). Further, compulsivity was a stronger mediator than impulsivity of relationships of CSA victimization with binge eating and compensatory behaviors. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the sequelae of CSA victimization may involve different forms of behavioral control strategies, which may in turn manifest differentially in symptoms of disordered eating. More emphasis should be paid to the role of compulsive tendencies and pathways from sexual abuse to compulsivity when developing theories and treatments for eating pathology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 13, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0031779   open full text
• Trends in violence research: An update through 2013.
  Hamby, Sherry; McDonald, Renee; Grych, John.
  Psychology of Violence. January 13, 2014
  Trendspotting has its place in the scientific world. It is 1 way of recognizing the uptake of innovations, and observing broad patterns rather than focusing on particular topics also helps to address the problem of knowledge management in an era of information overload. Using Google Scholar, we tracked scholarly publications in a variety of violence topics from 2008 through 2013. We found increases in technology-related topics, such as cyberbullying, and technology-intensive methodologies, such as experience sampling. We also found an uptick in the consideration of co-occurrence among forms of violence. On the other hand, there was evidence that some important but harder-to-study areas are not receiving comparable attention, such as home visitation, safety planning, and batterer intervention. Prevention scholarship shows a varied pattern but generally lags behind studies on risk factors and consequences. The field could benefit from more investment in prevention and intervention research and more scientific and technological innovation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 13, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0035384   open full text
• Can college students use emotion regulation strategies to alter intimate partner aggression-risk behaviors? An examination using I³ theory.
  Maldonado, Rosalita C.; DiLillo, David; Hoffman, Lesa.
  Psychology of Violence. January 13, 2014
  Objective: Drawing on Finkel and Eckhardt’s I³ theory (Finkel & Eckhardt, 2013), this experimental study examined the effects of emotion regulatory efforts on aggressive verbalizations during anger arousal. Methods: Participants were 236 male and female college students with and without a history of intimate partner aggression (IPA) perpetration. Participants were randomized to 1 of 3 emotion regulation strategy conditions: cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression, or no instruction. They were trained to use these strategies in response to emotionally evocative dating scenarios presented via the Articulated Thoughts in Simulated Situations (ATSS) paradigm. Participants’ aggressive verbalizations in response to these scenarios were coded. Results: A significant interaction emerged such that IPA perpetrators trained to use cognitive reappraisal articulated fewer aggressive verbalizations than did non-IPA perpetrators; IPA perpetrators instructed to use expressive suppression tended to articulate more aggressive verbalizations than did non-IPA perpetrators. Conclusions: Findings lend support to some of the major tenets of the I³ model, and suggest that emotion regulation strategies may be important treatment targets for IPA perpetration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 13, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0035454   open full text
• What is empowerment anyway? A model for domestic violence practice, research, and evaluation.
  Cattaneo, Lauren Bennett; Goodman, Lisa A.
  Psychology of Violence. January 13, 2014
  Although the idea of empowerment lies at the heart of the anti–domestic violence movement, consensus on the defining characteristics of this construct have remained elusive. A clear and consistent definition of empowerment would promote the development of common metrics for research and evaluation, and guide the development of best practices. In this article, we describe specific challenges that have made the conceptualization of empowerment difficult. We then overview the Empowerment Process Model, and describe the ways in which it addresses those challenges. This model articulates empowerment as a meaningful shift in the experience of power attained through interaction in the social world, and describes the process of building empowerment as an iterative one, in which a person takes action toward personally meaningful goals; draws on community supports, skill, knowledge, and self-efficacy to move toward those goals; and observes the extent to which those actions result in progress. By incorporating both process and outcome dimensions, bridging the psychological and contextual realms, and allowing for domain specificity, the model addresses challenges to a clear conceptualization; and provides a common framework that may be used as a reference point for practitioners and researchers wishing to apply the construct. We conclude with suggestions for and examples of its application in research and practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 13, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0035137   open full text
• Understanding the link between men’s alcohol use and sexual violence perpetration: The mediating role of sexual objectification.
  Gervais, Sarah J.; DiLillo, David; McChargue, Dennis.
  Psychology of Violence. January 13, 2014
  Objective: This study provided a novel consideration of the relations between alcohol consumption, sexual objectification, and sexual violence, because evidence for the links between sexual objectification and alcohol consumption as well as objectification and sexual violence are almost nonexistent in the published literature. We also developed a measure of interpersonal sexual objectification perpetration (ISOS-P) because there are no existing self-report measures of this construct. We hypothesized that these variables would be associated positively and that sexual objectification (including evaluating women’s bodies and making sexual advances toward women) would mediate the relation between alcohol use and sexual violence. Method: To test these possibilities, undergraduate men completed measures assessing their alcohol use, sexual objectification, and sexual violence. Results: Positive relations emerged between alcohol consumption frequency, alcohol consumption quantity, body evaluation, sexual advances, and sexual violence. A path analysis revealed that the combined effect of body evaluation and sexual advances was a significant mediator of the alcohol quantity and sexual violence link. As well, body evaluation was a significant mediator of the alcohol quantity and sexual advances link. Conclusion: This study provides a novel contribution to the literature by developing a measure of sexual objectification perpetration and showing that this construct mediates the frequently documented association between heavy drinking and sexual violence. These findings have implications for the prevention of alcohol-related sexual assault on college campuses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 13, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0033840   open full text
• “It’s not just you two”: A grounded theory of peer-influenced jealousy as a pathway to dating violence among acculturating Mexican American adolescents.
  Adams, Heidi L.; Williams, Lela Rankin.
  Psychology of Violence. January 13, 2014
  Objective: To develop a deeper understanding of how jealousy escalates to physical dating violence within Mexican American adolescent romantic relationships. Method: Using grounded theory, 20 focus groups of self-identified Mexican American adolescents (N = 64; 15–17 years old) were analyzed by level of acculturation and gender. Results: Three distinct “jealous” typologies resulting in dating violence were identified: normative jealousy (typically highly acculturated or bicultural male and female adolescents), jealous and possessive (typically bicultural male adolescents), and jealous and accepting of dating violence norms (typically low acculturated male adolescents). Across types, jealousy was upheld within a peer culture that constructed loose definitions of cheating behavior and was identified as the most salient relationship issue that held the potential to escalate to extreme forms of anger and resulting violence. Conclusions: Adolescents’ behaviors within their romantic relationships are embedded within a peer environment that legitimizes and fosters relationship jealousy. Jealousy is a particularly salient and troublesome relationship issue among acculturating Mexican American adolescents, who struggle as it is normatively experienced yet initiates processes leading to partner violence. Dating violence preventative interventions need to target both culturally influenced intrapersonal factors (e.g., communication and anger management skills, acceptance of dating violence) as well as peer norms (e.g., partner monitoring) to effect change among Mexican American youth. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 13, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0034294   open full text
• Family and abuse characteristics of gang-involved, pressured-to-join, and non–gang-involved girls.
  De La Rue, Lisa; Espelage, Dorothy L.
  Psychology of Violence. January 13, 2014
  Objective: Gang membership among adolescent girls is an understudied phenomenon, despite the fact that these young girls are on a pathway to continued involvement in antisocial behavior. Using a large school-based sample, this was one of the first studies to contrast risk factors of female gang involvement for girls who are pressured to join but resist gang membership versus those who are gang-involved. Method: Female adolescents from a Midwestern county (n = 7,513; 7th – 12th grades) self-reported whether they were currently or had been a member of a gang, whether they had been pressured but resisted gang involvement, or whether they had no current or past gang involvement. Self-report measures assessed family conflict, family gang involvement, delinquency, aggression, a history of sexual/physical abuse, and whether they had run away or had been kicked out of their home. Results: Females involved in gangs reported a significantly greater history of running away from home, family gang involvement, and greater levels of aggressive and delinquent behaviors than girls with no gang involvement. Gang-involved girls experienced greater levels of sexual abuse, family conflict, and less parental monitoring compared with the pressured-to-join group. Conclusions: Sexual abuse, family conflict, and low parental monitoring appear to differentiate girls who join a gang versus those girls who are recruited but resist. Thus, adults and professionals working with girls who are at-risk for gang involvement should assess potential sexual abuse and family conflict in the home. Professionals working directly with gang-involved girls should provide opportunities for these young women to safely address their trauma history before engaging in efforts to change behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 13, 2014   doi: 10.1037/a0035492   open full text
• Child maltreatment among civilian parents before, during, and after deployment in United States Air Force families.
  McCarthy, Randy J.; Rabenhorst, Mandy M.; Thomsen, Cynthia J.; Milner, Joel S.; Travis, Wendy J.; Copeland, Carol W.; Foster, Rachel E.
  Psychology of Violence. December 30, 2013
  Objective: To conduct the first population-based study comparing child maltreatment rates perpetrated by civilian parents in military families before, during, and after combat-related deployments. Method: The sample included children in United States Air Force families who experienced at least 1 child maltreatment incident perpetrated by their civilian parent and whose active-duty parent experienced at least 1 combat-related deployment between October 1, 2001, and October 31, 2008. Results: During the study period, 2,442 children were involved in 2,879 substantiated child maltreatment incidents perpetrated by the civilian parent. Rates of child maltreatment by civilian parents increased 52% during deployments compared with before the active-duty parent’s first deployment. The overall postdeployment child maltreatment rate was lower than the predeployment and during-deployment maltreatment rates. The large increase in child maltreatment by the civilian parent during deployment compared with predeployment was largely driven by a 124% increase in child neglect. Conclusion: During combat-related deployments, children are at heightened risk of child neglect perpetrated by their civilian parent. These results suggest a need for focused maltreatment prevention/intervention efforts during this time of increased risk of children being neglected by their civilian parent. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  December 30, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0035433   open full text
• Correction to Runions et al. (2013).
  Runions, Kevin; Shapka, Jennifer D.; Dooley, Julian; Modecki, Kathryn.
  Psychology of Violence. October 14, 2013
  Reports an error in "Cyber-aggression and victimization and social information processing: Integrating the medium and the message" by Kevin Runions, Jennifer D. Shapka, Julian Dooley and Kathryn Modecki (Psychology of Violence, 2013[Jan], Vol 3[1], 9-26). The name of author Kathryn Modecki was misspelled Kathyrn Modeck in the byline and author note. The online version of this article has been corrected. The name also appears in correct form in this record. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2012-31074-001.) Objective: To theoretically examine how the functional properties of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) may potentially influence social information processing (SIP) relevant to cyber-aggression and victimization (CAV), and the opportunities for aggression and victimization that these new technologies provide. Results: Our conceptual analysis highlights multiple functional properties of ICTs that provide opportunities for CAV, and implicates new social norms arising around use of ICTs that may also distinguish online from offline aggression and victimization. These include the paucity and/or permanence of social cues, the deployment of substitute cues (e.g., emoticons), ambiguity around intentions of communicators and around perceptions of privacy and audience, and the removal of response inhibitors resulting from continuous access to ICTs. Conclusions: Our analysis provides a useful heuristic device and reveals a need for innovative research to better examine how features of ICTs modulate social information processing to increase (or decrease) the likelihood of cyber-aggression and victimization. The consideration of SIP in understanding CAV opens important avenues for future empirical inquiry. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 14, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0034503   open full text
• Do parenting practices and prosocial peers moderate the association between intimate partner violence exposure and teen dating violence?
  Garrido, Edward F.; Taussig, Heather N.
  Psychology of Violence. October 14, 2013
  Objective: Teen dating violence (TDV) affects the lives of millions of adolescents each year. The current study examined the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure and TDV perpetration and victimization. In addition, positive parenting practices and prosocial peer relationships were examined as potential moderators of the association between IPV and TDV. Method: Participants were 41 adolescents (ages 12–15) and their caregivers. Youth were currently or recently in an out-of-home placement due to maltreatment. Youth reported on their exposure to violence, involvement in TDV, and association with prosocial peers. Caregivers reported on their parenting practices. Results: There was a significant, positive association between IPV exposure and TDV victimization, but not between IPV and TDV perpetration. In addition, positive parenting practices and prosocial peer relationships moderated the association between IPV and TDV perpetration, such that there was a positive association between IPV exposure and TDV perpetration at lower, but not higher levels of these moderators. Similarly, there was a positive association between IPV exposure and TDV victimization at lower, but not higher levels of positive parenting practices. Conclusions: These results highlight the importance of positive parenting practices and prosocial peers as key protective factors that may attenuate TDV involvement for high-risk adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 14, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0034036   open full text
• Correction to Miller and Esposito-Smythers (2013).
  Miller, Adam B.; Esposito-Smythers, Christianne.
  Psychology of Violence. October 14, 2013
  Reports an error in "How do cognitive distortions and substance-related problems affect the relationship between child maltreatment and adolescent suicidal ideation" by Adam B. Miller and Christianne Esposito-Smythers (Psychology of Violence, Advanced Online Publication, Jan 21, 2013, np). There was a wording error in the Results section and in the legend in Figure 1. Specifically, in the last paragraph on page 8 continuing onto the first paragraph on page 9, as well as the legend in Figure 1, any reference to “alcohol-related problems” should have stated “drug-related problems.” (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2013-01520-001.) Objective: The present study, informed by the cognitive–behavioral theory of suicide, is among the first studies to examine cognitive distortions and substance-related problems as potential mediators and moderators of the relation between child maltreatment (CM) and suicidal ideation (SI) in adolescent psychiatric inpatients. Method: The sample included 185 adolescents (71.4% female; 84% White) admitted to a psychiatric inpatient unit. Participants completed self-report measures assessing cognitive errors, negative cognitive triad, substance-related problems, and SI. Participants and their parents completed a semistructured diagnostic interview assessing CM history. Results: In this clinical sample, we found that CM was associated with SI only for youth with current substance abuse problems, indicating moderation. Contrary to predictions, substance related problems did not mediate the association between CM and adolescent SI. Further, cognitive errors and negative cognitive triad did not mediate or moderate the association between CM and SI. However, there were significant unique effects for both cognitive errors and negative cognitive triad on SI, suggesting that adolescents with more severe cognitive distortions report greater SI, regardless of CM history. Conclusions: Clinically, results suggest that practitioners should carefully screen for and address any substance misuse among victims of maltreatment to prevent clinically significant SI. Study results also suggest that interventions that incorporate cognitive restructuring may help decrease risk for severe SI in adolescent clinical samples in general. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 14, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0034620   open full text
• “Above all things, be glad and young”: Advancing research on violence in adolescence.
  McDonald, Renee; Merrick, Melissa T.
  Psychology of Violence. October 14, 2013
  Adolescence is a unique developmental period in which youth are at heightened risk for violence perpetration and victimization, both of which can adversely affect the course of normal psychosocial development and health across the life course. The possible range of violent experiences during adolescence is broad, including physical and relational peer violence, bullying, sexual violence, cyber-aggression, child maltreatment, exposure to parental intimate partner violence, exposure to aggressive media, and more. The 8 articles in this special issue span this wide range of violence experiences. In helping to fill gaps in knowledge about the nature and processes by which violence develops, and how violence experiences affect adolescents, these articles as a group also offer direction for future research. They illustrate the need for research that cuts across the separate bodies of research on violence involving youth, that tackles thorny questions about the conceptualization of violence in its myriad forms, and that considers the ways in which the various forms and dimensions of violence operate together, across levels of the social ecology, to influence outcomes. The findings in this collection of studies also have implications for the development of prevention and intervention programs to address the problem of violence in adolescence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 14, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0034275   open full text
• Bad news, bad times, and violence: The link between economic distress and aggression.
  Barlett, Christopher P.; Anderson, Craig A.
  Psychology of Violence. October 14, 2013
  Objective: The current research applied the general aggression model (GAM) to explain the relation between negative societal changes (e.g., indicators of a poor economy) on aggression-related outcomes. One correlational and one experimental study tested the relationships between these variables as well as possible mediating mechanisms. Method: In Study 1 (N = 193), participants completed several measures to assess aggression, stress from current economic crises, and trait hostility. In Study 2 (N = 101), participants were randomly assigned to view stressful news videos (clips suggesting the economy is poor) or neutral news videos prior to completing state measures of stress and hostility. Results: Study 1 found significant positive relations between stress from negative societal changes and aggression, mediated by hostility. Study 2 showed that viewing stressful news videos increased state hostility, which was mediated by state levels of stress. Conclusions: Overall, results suggest that indicators of poor economic times are related to aggression and hostility. These findings offer theoretical implications for the utility of the GAM in explaining how societal-level shifts in economy-related variables can influence aggression levels at the individual level. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 14, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0034479   open full text
• Women’s reactions to participating in dating violence research: A mixed methodological study.
  Edwards, Katie M.; Sylaska, Kateryna M.; Gidycz, Christine A.
  Psychology of Violence. October 14, 2013
  Objective: To explore reactions to participation in research concerning dating violence (DV) within women’s current relationships and how study participation influenced women’s thoughts toward their current partners and relationships. Methods: Mixed-methodological study with 940 college women, including closed-ended survey questions and an open-ended question inquiring about participants’ reactions to research participation. Results: Women generally reported low levels of emotional reactions to research participation, moderate levels of personal benefits to research participation, and a small to moderate percentage of participants reported shifting reactions toward their partners and relationships. In general, the presence of DV experiences (victimization more consistently than perpetration), lower relationship commitment and satisfaction, and higher posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms were related to lower levels of feeling more positive about one’s relationship or partner as a result of research participation and higher levels of the following: emotional reactions to research participation, personal benefits to research participation, feeling negative toward and afraid of one’s partner as a result of research participation, and thinking about ending the relationship as a result of research participation. Qualitative coding of women’s open-ended responses was consistent with quantitative findings and provided additional details on how and why (e.g., insight, validation, and normalization) the study affected women’s perceptions of their partners and relationships. Qualitative analyses also underscored the likely minimization and normalization of DV, some of which seemed to be related to research participation. Conclusion: The finding that this research was generally well-tolerated by participants is reassuring to those committed to the scientific study of DV and can be used to assuage concerns of institutional review boards. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 14, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0034339   open full text
• How do we know if it works? Measuring outcomes in bystander-focused abuse prevention on campuses.
  Banyard, Victoria L.; Moynihan, Mary M.; Cares, Alison C.; Warner, Rebecca.
  Psychology of Violence. September 30, 2013
  Objective: To address acknowledged limitations in the effectiveness of sexual and relationship abuse prevention strategies, practitioners have developed new tools that use a bystander framework. Evaluation of bystander-focused prevention requires measures, specific to the bystander approach, that assess changes over time in participants’ attitudes and behaviors. Few measures exist and more psychometric analyses are needed. We present analyses to begin to establish the psychometric properties of four new measures of bystander outcomes and their subscales. Method: We collected data from 948 first-year college students on two campuses in the northeastern United States. Items assessing attitudes and behaviors related to bystander helping responses in college campus communities for situations where there is sexual or relationship abuse risk were factor analyzed. Results: Measures of readiness to help (assessed specifically with scales representing taking action, awareness, and taking responsibility), intent to be an active bystander, self-reported bystander responses, and perceptions of peer norms in support of action all showed adequate reliability and validity. Conclusion: This study represents a next step in the development of tools that can be used by researchers and practitioners seeking both to understand bystander behavior in the context of sexual and relationship abuse and to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention tools to address these problems. The measures investigated will be helpful for prevention educators and researchers evaluating the effectiveness of sexual and relationship abuse education tools that use a bystander intervention framework. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  September 30, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0033470   open full text
• Dimensions of juvenile psychopathy distinguish “bullies,” “bully-victims,” and “victims”.
  Fanti, Kostas A.; Kimonis, Eva R.
  Psychology of Violence. August 26, 2013
  Objective: Psychopathy is a multidimensional construct comprising traits of narcissism, impulsivity, and callous-unemotionality (CU). Prior cross-sectional research supports an association between the CU dimension of juvenile psychopathy and peer bullying, but not victimization; however the relationship between the other psychopathy dimensions and “bully,” “bully victim,” and “victim” classifications has been largely neglected in research despite compelling empirical and theoretical support. Method: The current study addresses this critical gap in the literature using a longitudinal study design. The sample comprised 1416 (50.1% girls) Greek Cypriot adolescents (M age = 12.89) who completed a battery of self-report measures. Results: CU traits, narcissism, and impulsivity each added incremental variance beyond conduct problems (CP) to predicting bullying, whereas only impulsivity predicted victimization, one year later. Person-centered analyses clarified that CP and all psychopathy dimensions predicted membership into “bully” and “bully victim” groups, although the highest narcissism scores distinguished bullies. Impulsivity predicted membership into “victim” and “bully victim” groups, with the latter group scoring significantly higher. Conclusions: Notwithstanding other important unexamined factors known to contribute to bullying and victimization, our findings suggest that among psychopathy dimensions, narcissism best predicted which youth bullied, whereas impulsivity best distinguished youth susceptible to peer victimization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 26, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0033951   open full text
• Community violence exposure and adolescents’ school engagement and academic achievement over time.
  Borofsky, Larissa A.; Kellerman, Ilana; Baucom, Brian; Oliver, Pamella H.; Margolin, Gayla.
  Psychology of Violence. August 26, 2013
  Objective: This study examined the relationships between community violence exposure and two related, but meaningfully distinct, academic outcomes: school engagement and academic achievement (grade point average, GPA). Psychological symptoms were investigated as mediators of these relationships. Method: One-hundred and eighteen youth reported on community violence exposure and school engagement twice during adolescence, and both parents and adolescents reported on psychological symptoms. Cumulative GPA was also acquired from participants. A path model and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to assess these relationships longitudinally. Results: Earlier community violence exposure inversely predicted later school engagement, but earlier school engagement did not predict later community violence exposure. School engagement mediated the association between community violence exposure and school GPA. Internalizing and externalizing symptoms, but not posttraumatic stress symptoms, mediated the association between community violence and school engagement. Conclusions: When adolescents are exposed to community violence, they may become vulnerable to a cascade of events including psychological symptoms and decreased connectedness to school, which ultimately can lead to overall poor academic achievement. The more proximal, changeable experiences of school connectedness and psychological symptoms offer targets for interventions offsetting long-term adverse academic consequences in violence-exposed youth. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 26, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0034121   open full text
• Partner-specific anger management as a mediator of the relation between mindfulness and female perpetrated dating violence.
  Shorey, Ryan C.; Seavey, Amanda E.; Quinn, Emily; Cornelius, Tara L.
  Psychology of Violence. August 26, 2013
  Objective: The current study examined the relationship between facets of mindfulness, partner-specific anger management, and female perpetrated dating violence. In addition, we examined whether anger management mediated the relation between mindfulness and psychological and physical aggression perpetration. Method: Female undergraduate students (n = 481) completed self-report measures of mindfulness, partner-specific anger management, and dating violence perpetration. Results: The mindfulness facets of nonreactivity, act with awareness, and nonjudging, as well as anger management, were associated with dating violence perpetration. After controlling for dating violence victimization, structural equation modeling (SEM) demonstrated that anger management fully mediated the relation between nonreactivity and act with awareness and psychological and physical aggression perpetration. Moreover, specific anger management components (escalating strategies and negative attributions) were largely responsible for the mediation findings. Conclusions: This is one of the first studies to demonstrate a relation between mindfulness and aggression perpetration, and the first to examine theoretically proposed mechanisms responsible for this relationship. Dating violence prevention programs may benefit from including mindfulness-based interventions to improve anger management and reduce aggressive behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 26, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0033658   open full text
• The relationship of outwardly directed aggression to suicidal ideation and suicide attempts across two high-risk samples.
  Swogger, Marc T.; Van Orden, Kimberly A.; Conner, Kenneth R.
  Psychology of Violence. August 26, 2013
  Objective: Although research has established some relationships between risk factors and specific suicide-related outcomes, in large part the extent to which suicidal ideation and attempts have different risk profiles is unclear. Using two theories of suicidal behavior to guide our hypotheses, we studied the relationship of outwardly directed aggression to suicidal ideation and attempts in two high-risk samples. Method: Participants in Study 1 were 271 criminal offenders in a pretrial diversion program. Participants in Study 2 were 892 psychiatric inpatients who participated in the MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study. Results: In both studies, after controlling for relevant covariates, outwardly directed aggression was associated with suicide attempts, but not ideation. Among psychiatric patients, further analyses revealed that outwardly directed aggression was associated with planned, but not unplanned, suicide attempts. Conclusions: That aggression is related to suicide attempts and not ideation is consistent with hypotheses based on both Joiner’s (2005; Why people die by suicide. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press) interpersonal theory of suicidal behavior and theories based on a diathesis toward behavioral dysregulation (e.g., Mann et al., 2009). That aggression was associated with planned suicide attempts is consistent with Joiner’s theory. Competing explanations for the results include a potential role of proactive aggression in suicide attempts, particularly planned attempts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 26, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0033212   open full text
• Antisocial behavior trajectories of adolescents and emerging adults with histories of sexual aggression.
  Ronis, Scott T.; Borduin, Charles M.
  Psychology of Violence. August 26, 2013
  Objective: The development of antisocial behavior among youths with histories of sexual aggression was examined. Method: Participants were 1,725 youths and their parents who were part of an ongoing, prospective longitudinal study that followed youths from early adolescence (11 to 17 years of age) through emerging adulthood (18 to 27 years of age). Individual youths completed a self-report delinquency measure in seven waves of the study. Of the participants, 131 individuals reported committing at least one sexually aggressive act across the seven waves, and 605 individuals reported committing at least one serious nonsexual antisocial act (e.g., physical assault, robbery) but no sexual aggression during the study. Results: A growth mixture modeling approach revealed three antisocial behavior trajectories (i.e., low, moderate, and chronic) and indicated that individuals with a history of sexual aggression (i.e., sexual perpetrators) generally did not have different antisocial behavior trajectories during adolescence and emerging adulthood than did individuals with histories of serious nonsexual antisocial behavior (i.e., nonsexual perpetrators). Moreover, similar proportions of sexual perpetrators and nonsexual perpetrators were found on each of the three trajectories. Conclusions: These findings suggest that sexual perpetrators are not a homogeneous population and that the development of problem sexual behavior is generally similar to the development of other serious antisocial behaviors. These findings also suggest that treatments that have demonstrated effectiveness with delinquent youth in general may be successful with sexually aggressive youth in particular. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 26, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0033597   open full text
• “Best Violence Research of 2012: Selections From an Invited Panel of Researchers”: Correction to Kendall-Tackett et al. (2013).
  Kendall-Tackett, Kathleen; Edleson, Jeffrey; Collin-Vézina, Delphine; Mankowski, Eric S.; Vaughan-Eden, Viola.
  Psychology of Violence. August 05, 2013
  Reports an error in "Best violence research of 2012: Selections from an invited panel of researchers" by Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, Jeffrey Edleson, Delphine Collin-Vézina, Eric S. Mankowski and Viola Vaughan-Eden (Psychology of Violence, 2013[Jul], Vol 3[3], 203-211). In the article, the name of one of the authors of the featured articles was misspelled throughout the text and in Table 1. Miloski, R. should have been Milloshi, R. In addition, the middle initial of Carlos Cuevas was missing, and there was an error in the title and ending page number. The correct reference is included. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2013-23424-002.) Following on a similar effort last year, five senior researchers have each selected two articles that they believe represent the best violence research published in 2012 and, like members of the panel that selected 2011 articles, once again provide comments about how they each approached this large task. In tandem with the results of last year’s panel, the result provides some insight into how senior scholars stay abreast of key findings in the field of violence. The 10 selected articles, published in eight different outlets, include several national surveillance efforts, including one economic analysis; several that focus on ethnically and culturally diverse communities; and two on prevention and two on the challenges of clinical interviewing. They provide a snapshot of the issues, challenges, and achievements of the field today. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 05, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0034111   open full text
• Do self-control depletion and negative emotion contribute to intimate partner aggression? A lab-based study.
  Watkins, Laura E.; DiLillo, David; Hoffman, Lesa; Templin, Jonathan.
  Psychology of Violence. July 29, 2013
  Objective: Intimate partner aggression (IPA) is a serious problem among dating couples. The present study examined dyadic and situational processes that may lead to IPA perpetration among a sample of 59 heterosexual couples (total n = 118), within the framework of Finkel’s I³ model. Method: IPA was assessed using an in vivo aggression task, in the context of a weak inhibiting factor (self-control depletion) and a strong impellance factor (negative emotion) generated during in vivo verbal conflict between partners (functioning as an instigating trigger). Results: Actor–partner interdependence model analyses demonstrated that negative emotion (prediscussion and reactivity) positively predicted men’s aggression and the interaction between emotion reactivity and self-control depletion predicted women’s partner aggression. Several partner effects emerged as well. Conclusion: These findings provide support for the I³ model and suggest that during conflictual encounters both partners may recognize and respond to each other’s negative mood and depletion states in ways that escalate aggression. The current study contributes to our understanding of the individual and dyadic processes leading to IPA perpetration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  July 29, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0033955   open full text
• Women’s expression of anger in response to unwanted sexual advances: Associations with sexual victimization.
  Jouriles, Ernest N.; Simpson Rowe, Lorelei; McDonald, Renee; Kleinsasser, Anne L.
  Psychology of Violence. July 15, 2013
  Objective: To examine the association between women’s prior sexual victimization and their expression of anger in response to unwanted sexual advances. Method: Sixty-five female undergraduate students participated in role plays with male actors. During the role plays, which were conducted using virtual reality technology, the male actor made unwanted sexual advances toward the participant. Participants’ expression of anger in response to these advances was coded and analyzed. Results: Women with a history of sexual victimization were observed to be less angry and used fewer anger words in response to initial unwanted sexual advances, compared with women with no history of sexual victimization. Conclusion: This study highlights the potential importance of women’s expression of anger in response to unwanted sexual advances. Specifically, anger expression might be important to consider in understanding women’s vulnerability to victimization and revictimization, and as an intervention target for programs designed to help women resist sexual violence. Finally, this study illustrates the potential benefits of a unique methodology—role plays conducted using virtual reality—for investigating women’s responses to unwanted sexual advances. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  July 15, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0033191   open full text
• Cyber- and traditional peer victimization: Unique relationships with adolescent well-being.
  Wigderson, Sara; Lynch, Michael.
  Psychology of Violence. July 15, 2013
  Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between cyber-victimization and adolescent well-being, alone and in combination with relational and physical victimization. Method: Questionnaires assessing the study constructs were administered in group settings during the school day. Data were collected from 388 adolescents. Multiple regression was used to examine the unique associations between different victimization experiences and indicators of emotional well-being and academic performance. Several potential modifiers of the relationship between cyber-victimization and adolescent functioning were examined as well. Results: Cyber-victimization was positively associated with emotional problems and negatively related to GPA even after experiences of physical and relational victimization were taken into consideration. The results also indicated that cyber-victimization significantly interacted with other forms of victimization, such that both relational and physical victimization modified the relationship between cyber-victimization and GPA. Conclusion: Overall, these data demonstrate that multiple forms of victimization are negatively associated with adolescent well-being, and that cyber-victimization can influence adolescents above and beyond traditional victimization. In addition, this study has policy implications for schools and parents in regard to adolescents’ victimization experiences. In particular, it will be necessary for schools to provide both academic and mental health resources for students experiencing victimization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

  July 15, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0033657   open full text
• Social information processing and the perpetration of intimate partner violence: It is (and isn’t) what you think.
  Murphy, Christopher M.
  Psychology of Violence. July 08, 2013
  Research on the perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) reveals a wide array of important influences, ranging from neurophysiology to culture. Yet prominent theories are narrow in focus and existing interventions are only modestly effective. This commentary highlights the need for a biopsychosocial model of IPV that is coherent, integrative, nonreductionistic, and facilitates effective practice, and illustrates how the social information processing (SIP) approach can provide an organizing framework for this effort. SIP involves recursive steps leading from the decoding of social cues to the generation, selection, enactment, and evaluation of responses in light of interpersonal goals and with constant reference to a central “database” of social knowledge. Factors such as posttraumatic stress, alcohol intoxication, and neurocognitive deficits increase risk for IPV through specific alterations in SIP processes such as the attribution of negative partner intent and perceived acceptability of violence. From this perspective, violence is an actively selected response option and therefore individuals are personally responsible for choosing to act in an abusive manner. However, a wide array of biological, psychological, and social factors influence SIP processes. Further understanding of SIP in IPV will clarify change targets for intervention, facilitate the development of new intervention strategies, and provide efficient ways to evaluate intervention effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

  July 08, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0033344   open full text
• Best violence research of 2012: Selections from an invited panel of researchers.
  Kendall-Tackett, Kathleen; Edleson, Jeffrey; Collin-Vézina, Delphine; Mankowski, Eric S.; Vaughan-Eden, Viola.
  Psychology of Violence. July 08, 2013
  [Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported online in Psychology of Violence on Aug 5 2013 (see record 2013-28017-001). The name of one of the authors of the featured articles was misspelled throughout the text and in Table 1. Miloski, R. should have been Milloshi, R. In addition, the middle initial of Carlos Cuevas was missing, and there was an error in the title and ending page number. The correct reference is the following: Cuevas, C. A., Sabina, C., & Milloshi, R. (2012). Interpersonal victimization among a national sample of Latino women. Violence Against Women, 18, 377–403.] Following on a similar effort last year, five senior researchers have each selected two articles that they believe represent the best violence research published in 2012 and, like members of the panel that selected 2011 articles, once again provide comments about how they each approached this large task. In tandem with the results of last year’s panel, the result provides some insight into how senior scholars stay abreast of key findings in the field of violence. The 10 selected articles, published in eight different outlets, include several national surveillance efforts, including one economic analysis; several that focus on ethnically and culturally diverse communities; and two on prevention and two on the challenges of clinical interviewing. They provide a snapshot of the issues, challenges, and achievements of the field today. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

  July 08, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0033373   open full text
• An invited panel to identify the best violence research of 2012: An effort in knowledge management in an era of information overload.
  Hamby, Sherry.
  Psychology of Violence. July 08, 2013
  This is the second year we have endeavored to identify the best violence research in the preceding year with the help of an invited panel. Across both years, trends are emerging in terms of how panelists approach the tasks, although new ways to organize the task were also seen this year. Some of the most common organizational efforts involved organizing by method or topic, such as emphasizing nationally representative data sets or focusing on an area such as the health effects of violence. Some panelists devoted more energy to reviewing certain violence-focused outlets. This year, some panelists reported belonging to journal groups and relying on their peers for help identifying key new research. The task of knowledge management in this era of knowledge proliferation has not been solved, but Psychology of Violence is sponsoring or promoting several efforts to assist researchers, including more commentaries in addition to these “Best of” panels. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

  July 08, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0033365   open full text
• Childrearing violence and child adjustment after exposure to Kenyan post-election violence.
  Skinner, Ann T.; Oburu, Paul; Lansford, Jennifer E.; Bacchini, Dario.
  Psychology of Violence. July 01, 2013
  Objective: This study examines parents’ and children’s exposure to short-term political violence and the relation between childrearing violence and child adjustment after widespread violence that erupted in Kisumu, Kenya after the disputed presidential election in December 2007. Method: Mothers of 100 Luo children (mean age = 8.46 years, 61% female) reported on their own use of childrearing violence at Time 1, approximately 4 months after the disputed election, and again at Times 2 (n = 95) and 3 (n = 95), approximately 12 and 24 months later, respectively. At Time 2, mothers reported about post-election violence directed at them and about their children’s exposure to post-election violence. Children reported about their own externalizing behaviors at Times 1, 2, and 3. Results: Children’s exposure to post-election violence was related to Time 2 externalizing behavior, and childrearing violence at Time 1 predicted child externalizing behavior at Time 2. Exposure to post-election violence was not directly related to either childrearing violence or children’s externalizing behavior by Time 3, although children’s externalizing at Time 2 predicted more childrearing violence at Time 3. Conclusion: These results support earlier work that links childrearing violence and children’s exposure to political violence with increases in child externalizing behavior, but examined these links in the understudied area of short-term political violence. Even though sudden and severe political violence may subside significantly in weeks or months, increased attention to long-term effects on parenting and child adjustment is warranted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  July 01, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0033237   open full text
• Extensiveness and persistence of aggressive media exposure as longitudinal risk factors for teen dating violence.
  Friedlander, Laura J.; Connolly, Jennifer A.; Pepler, Debra J.; Craig, Wendy M.
  Psychology of Violence. June 17, 2013
  Objective: To determine whether adolescents’ use of aggressive media is a risk for dating violence victimization and perpetration, considering extensiveness across media types (TV, movies, music, magazines, Internet) and persistence over 3 years. Method: On three occasions, 1 year apart, 238 boys and 246 girls (mean age 15.06 years) with romantic partners completed measures of media aggression, dating violence-tolerant attitudes, and victimization and perpetration of dating violence. Two models were tested: cumulative risk of extensive and persistent use and mediational role of attitudes. Results: Findings support the cumulative risk of extensive aggressive media usage on dating violence victimization and perpetration across three waves. Violence-tolerant attitudes fully mediated the longitudinal pathway between aggressive media use and perpetration and partially mediated the pathway for victimization. Conclusion: Findings indicate that aggressive media increases the incidence of dating violence over 3 years and is mediated by its effect on adolescents’ attitudes about violence. Analyzing this effect for victimization and perpetration, the findings demonstrate the widespread effect of the media and have important implications for dating violence theories. The focus of dating violence prevention on youths’ attitudes regarding violence is supported with the recommendation to include media awareness training in the curricula. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 17, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0032983   open full text
• Child maltreatment before and after combat-related deployment among active-duty United States Air Force maltreating parents.
  Thomsen, Cynthia J.; Rabenhorst, Mandy M.; McCarthy, Randy J.; Milner, Joel S.; Travis, Wendy J.; Foster, Rachel E.; Copeland, Carol W.
  Psychology of Violence. June 17, 2013
  Objective: To conduct the first population-based study comparing the frequency of child maltreatment among active-duty United States Air Force (USAF) maltreating parents before and after combat-related deployment. Method: By combining archival databases, we identified 2,287 children with a total of 2,563 substantiated maltreatment incidents perpetrated by USAF parents who deployed during an 85-month study period during Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom. Results: Contrary to expectations, overall the frequency of child maltreatment was significantly lower after than before deployment, and this pattern did not vary as a function of the number of combat-related deployments. Further, the frequency of child maltreatment was lower postdeployment relative to predeployment for emotional abuse, mild neglect, and maltreatment not involving alcohol, but the frequency was higher postdeployment for child sexual abuse and severe child neglect, particularly when severe child neglect involved alcohol. Conclusions: In general, among children who experienced parental maltreatment by a deploying USAF parent, milder forms of child maltreatment were less common postdeployment, whereas severe types of child maltreatment were more common. Possible explanations implicate predeployment differences in resources and functioning or postdeployment differences in posttraumatic growth and maturation between parental perpetrators of mild versus more severe maltreatment. Postdeployment child maltreatment surveillance efforts should be vigilant for signs of severe forms of child maltreatment, which appear to be most likely to increase. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  June 17, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0031766   open full text
• Situational context moderates the relationship between moral disengagement and aggression.
  White-Ajmani, Mandi L.; Bursik, Krisanne.
  Psychology of Violence. April 15, 2013
  Objective: In this study, we examined whether dispositional moral disengagement is associated with a specific act of laboratory-based aggression. No study, to our knowledge, has yet demonstrated this simple, yet necessary, link. We also investigated whether situational context moderated this relationship. Method: A university sample of 181 participants completed the Moral Disengagement Scale and the Hot Sauce Paradigm in an experimental design. Participants allocated hot sauce for consumption by a fictional partner who had insulted them (experimental conditions) or not (control condition). In two of three experimental conditions, participants were given instructions incorporating statements of diffusion of responsibility and displacement of responsibility; the third experimental condition measured baseline aggression in a Revenge-only condition, without additional moral disengagement statements. Results: Dispositional moral disengagement was correlated with behavioral aggression, but only in the Revenge-only condition. This relationship disappeared in the Diffusion-primed and Displacement-primed conditions, demonstrating that situational context moderates the relationship between moral disengagement and aggression. Conclusions: Moral disengagement is indeed associated with specific acts of interpersonal aggression. However, while moral disengagement may play a substantial role in predicting aggression, the situational context must be taken into account. Our data suggest that situational characteristics can disrupt the association between trait moral disengagement and aggression, and this may be an avenue for future prevention research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 15, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0031728   open full text
• The influence of gang presence on victimization in one middle school environment.
  Forber-Pratt, Anjali J.; Aragon, Steven R.; Espelage, Dorothy L.
  Psychology of Violence. April 01, 2013
  Objective: The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand and describe the unique differences of both bullies and victims, through the eyes and stories of the participants, from this middle school. Method: Thompson Middle School enrolls approximately 440 students to date with 85% of the student population reported as African American, 8% White, and 9% Latino. The surrounding community has more than 20 gangs with 2,000 known gang members. Case study research, with data collected from 10 student interviews and unstructured observations from researcher field notes, was used to capture experiences from one middle school. Analysis was performed using a modified van Kaam approach for each transcript. Results: Themes that emerged included: (a) powerlessness of teachers and administrators; (b), students feeling unsafe before, during, and after school; (c) pressure of conformity to join gang life to avoid danger; and (d) students feeling trapped in an unsafe environment. Conclusion: Although the similar characteristics of bullying that are discussed in the current literature were identified, we found three important distinctions between a middle school with gang presence and schools without. These include: (a) the incidents of victimization are more violent in nature toward both students and teachers; (b) fear permeates the school environment possibly paralyzing prevention efforts; and (c) the social structure of gangs convolutes what is known about peer influence on bullying and victimization incidents due to deeply rooted history of gang presence, a hierarchy of power, and fear from bystanders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 01, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0031835   open full text
• Victimization and reporting to the police: The role of negative emotionality.
  Posick, Chad.
  Psychology of Violence. April 01, 2013
  Objective: Current research has suggested that characteristics of the victim (e.g., sex, race, age) and situational factors (e.g., injury, relationship to the offender) influence police reporting. Questions remain as to what other variables influence police reporting as well as the particular motivational mechanisms that move victims, and others, to report victimization incidents. This study introduces negative emotionality to investigate the direct and mediation effects of emotions on police reporting. Method: Using data from the British Crime Survey, regression models were used to explore the path from individual and incident characteristics to police reporting. Negative emotionality was introduced into the regression models as a key mediator in this pathway. Results: Negative emotionality significantly increased the chance of police reporting. Negative emotionality also mediated some of the influence of individual and incident characteristics on police reporting. Conclusion: The results suggest that emotions are important in determining why some incidents come to the attention of the police. They also reveal that victims who come to the attention of the police are often dealing with a multitude of intense negative emotions. This suggests that programs that focus on victims’ emotions, such as restorative justice, may be more successful in meeting the needs of victims than traditional approaches. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 01, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0031770   open full text
• Effects of thought suppression on provoked men’s alcohol-related physical aggression in the laboratory.
  Gallagher, Kathryn E.; Lisco, Claire G.; Parrott, Dominic J.; Giancola, Peter R.
  Psychology of Violence. April 01, 2013
  Objective: This study utilized a comprehensive theoretical approach to provide the first data on the impact of thought suppression on provoked men’s alcohol-related aggression. Method: A diverse community sample (58% African American) of males between the ages of 21 and 35 (M = 25.25) were randomly assigned to one of two beverage conditions (i.e., alcohol, no-alcohol control). Following beverage consumption, participants were provoked via reception of electric shocks and a verbal insult from a fictitious male opponent. Participants’ physical aggression was measured using a shock-based aggression task. Results: Results indicated that acute alcohol intoxication significantly increased physical aggression among lower, but not higher, thought suppressing men. Conclusions: Results suggest that, under conditions of interpersonal provocation, alcohol intoxication produces a myopic focus on hostile thoughts and angry affect in lower, but not higher, suppression men. This pattern of results provides support for the durability of the alcohol myopia effect and highlights the need for continued examination of alcohol’s role in the disruption of protective factors for men’s aggression. It is important for research to continue to identify modifiable cognitive variables that influence self-regulation of behavior; however, it is imperative that researchers consider the extent to which these variables withstand alcohol’s effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

  April 01, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0032304   open full text
• How do cognitive distortions and substance-related problems affect the relationship between child maltreatment and adolescent suicidal ideation?
  Miller, Adam B.; Esposito-Smythers, Christianne.
  Psychology of Violence. January 21, 2013
  [Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported in Vol 3(4) of Psychology of Violence (see record 2013-35341-002). There was a wording error in the Results section and in the legend in Figure 1. Specifically, in the last paragraph on page 8 continuing onto the first paragraph on page 9, as well as the legend in Figure 1, any reference to “alcohol-related problems” should have stated “drug-related problems.”] Objective: The present study, informed by the cognitive–behavioral theory of suicide, is among the first studies to examine cognitive distortions and substance-related problems as potential mediators and moderators of the relation between child maltreatment (CM) and suicidal ideation (SI) in adolescent psychiatric inpatients. Method: The sample included 185 adolescents (71.4% female; 84% White) admitted to a psychiatric inpatient unit. Participants completed self-report measures assessing cognitive errors, negative cognitive triad, substance-related problems, and SI. Participants and their parents completed a semistructured diagnostic interview assessing CM history. Results: In this clinical sample, we found that CM was associated with SI only for youth with current substance abuse problems, indicating moderation. Contrary to predictions, substance related problems did not mediate the association between CM and adolescent SI. Further, cognitive errors and negative cognitive triad did not mediate or moderate the association between CM and SI. However, there were significant unique effects for both cognitive errors and negative cognitive triad on SI, suggesting that adolescents with more severe cognitive distortions report greater SI, regardless of CM history. Conclusions: Clinically, results suggest that practitioners should carefully screen for and address any substance misuse among victims of maltreatment to prevent clinically significant SI. Study results also suggest that interventions that incorporate cognitive restructuring may help decrease risk for severe SI in adolescent clinical samples in general. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

  January 21, 2013   doi: 10.1037/a0031355   open full text
• Prospective predictors of technology-based sexual coercion by college males.
  Thompson, Martie P.; Morrison, Deidra J.
  Psychology of Violence. December 31, 2012
  Objective: Technology-based coercive behavior (TBC) represents an emerging public health problem. This study contributes to the literature by identifying prospective individual-, social-, and community-level predictors of TBC. Method: Data were collected from 795 men who participated in a prospective study on attitudes and behaviors regarding relationships with women. Variables across multiple ecological layers were used to predict TBC. Results: Bivariate analyses indicated that most all of the assessed risk variables across all three ecological domains significantly predicted TBC. Multivariate regression analyses indicated five variables uniquely accounted for TBC behaviors, including rape supportive beliefs, peer approval of forced sex, number of sexual partners, exposure to pornography, and participation in student government. Conclusions: Our findings that TBC can be prospectively predicted by these risk factors suggest that computer-based technology interventions focusing on these factors through social network ads that promote reflection on healthy social and romantic relationship behaviors and attitudes could help prevent and reduce TBC. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

  December 31, 2012   doi: 10.1037/a0030904   open full text
• Exposure to interpersonal violence and its associations with psychiatric morbidity in a U.S. national sample: A gender comparison.
  Iverson, Katherine M.; Dick, Alexandra; McLaughlin, Katie A.; Smith, Brian N.; Bell, Margret E.; Gerber, Megan R.; Cook, Natasha; Mitchell, Karen S.
  Psychology of Violence. December 17, 2012
  Objectives: We examine gender differences in population rates of various types of interpersonal violence in a U.S. national sample and investigate gender as a moderator of the associations between interpersonal violence and lifetime mental disorders and suicide attempts. Methods: Data were drawn from the National Comorbidity Survey-Replication study; 5,692 women and men completed interviews assessing lifetime exposure to nine types of interpersonal violence, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM–IV) mental health diagnoses, and suicide attempts. Results: Approximately 46% of women and 42% of men reported one or more types of interpersonal violence. Women were more likely to experience kidnapping, physical assault by an intimate partner, rape, sexual assault, and stalking, whereas men were more likely to experience mugging or physical assault by someone other than parents or an intimate partner. Interpersonal violence was associated with risk for many mental disorders and attempted suicide. Although women were at higher risk for several forms of interpersonal violence, the impact of interpersonal violence on mental health outcomes did not vary by gender. Conclusions: It is clearly important to identify and provide mental health treatment to women after interpersonal violence exposure. Findings also underscore the need for prevention and intervention efforts for women and men, including routine screening for interpersonal violence by health care providers and appropriate treatment to address mental health conditions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

  December 17, 2012   doi: 10.1037/a0030956   open full text
• When at-risk teens are violent toward romantic partners: The role of common stressors.
  Rosenfield, David; Jouriles, Ernest N.; Mueller, Victoria; McDonald, Renee.
  Psychology of Violence. December 17, 2012
  Objective: The present study uses longitudinal data to examine whether common stressors are associated with the perpetration of teen dating violence (TDV) in a sample of teens involved in the juvenile justice system. Several hypotheses about this association were examined, including the hypothesis that common stressors have a cumulative effect on TDV over time and that the association between common stressors and TDV is stronger among teens who have recently perpetrated TDV. Method: Participants were 92 teens in truancy court who were dating or “seeing” someone at the time they were recruited into the study. After completing a baseline assessment, teens were contacted by phone every 2 weeks over a 12-week period, and they were asked questions about common stressors and TDV during the 2 weeks prior to the phone call. Results: Concurrent common stressors were associated with TDV perpetration. In addition, longitudinal cross-lag analyses showed that stress during a 2-week period predicted TDV perpetration during the subsequent 2-week period, even after controlling for concurrent TDV. Furthermore, both prior and concurrent stressors contributed uniquely to TDV. The association between common stressors and TDV perpetration was stronger for teens who reported a greater history of TDV perpetration prior to the baseline assessment. Conclusion: Our results suggest that common stressors increase the likelihood of TDV perpetration among at-risk teens, that these effects appear to be cumulative, and that the association is especially strong for teens with a recent history of TDV. At-risk teens may benefit from programs designed to reduce stress and mitigate stress reactivity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

  December 17, 2012   doi: 10.1037/a0031029   open full text
• Trajectories and predictors of sexually aggressive behaviors during emerging adulthood.
  Thompson, Martie P.; Swartout, Kevin M.; Koss, Mary P.
  Psychology of Violence. October 22, 2012
  Objective: To assess longitudinal trajectories of college males’ sexually aggressive behaviors and determine time-varying individual- and peer-level risk factors that differentiate men who follow these different paths. Method: Our analytic sample consisted of 795 men who participated in a longitudinal study on high-risk behaviors among college students. The sample was surveyed at the end of each of their 4 years at university on a variety of measures, including sexual aggression (SA) and its hypothesized risk factors (hostile masculinity, number of sexual partners, alcohol misuse, and peer norms). Results: Using latent growth mixture modeling, we found four distinct SA trajectories: (a) consistently high, (b) decreasing, (c) increasing, and (d) consistently low. Multinomial logistic regression revealed that hostile masculinity and peer norms positively predicted trajectory membership at times when each trajectory reflected a high level of SA. Conclusions: Our study adds to the knowledge base by elucidating the different ways sexually aggressive behaviors change during emerging adulthood and how confluence-model-derived factors predict the different trajectories. The finding that changes over time in these risk factors correspond with SA perpetration risk informs prevention programming by illuminating the importance of continual focus on these risk factors throughout the college years, perhaps through annual self-assessments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

  October 22, 2012   doi: 10.1037/a0030624   open full text
• Measuring teen dating violence in males and females: Insights from the national survey of children’s exposure to violence.
  Hamby, Sherry; Turner, Heather.
  Psychology of Violence. September 03, 2012
  Objective: To assess the impact of different operationalizations of teen dating violence (TDV) on rates and gender patterns by incorporating sexual victimization, injury, and fear data into TDV scores. We also compare gender differences in fear reports for TDV with other victimization types. Method: Youth aged 12 to 17 (n = 1,680) were interviewed by telephone for the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence. Results: Depending on the inclusion criteria applied, the overall TDV rate varied from 1.4% to 7.5%. Rates for female youth ranged from 1.9% for injurious violence to a high of 6.3% for any report of physical or sexual force. Rates for male youth ranged from a low of 1.0% for injurious violence to a high of 8.6% for any report of physical or sexual force. Although the most common TDV operationalization, any physical force, resulted in a higher rate of male (7.9%) than female (4.5%) victimization, most other definitions resulted in a higher rate for females than males. TDV defined as any sexual, physically injurious, or fear-inducing incidents produced a female victimization rate of 5.1% and a male victimization rate of 3.1%. Fear reports to TDV incidents showed the largest gender difference in the entire National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence. Many other victimization types were viewed as similarly fear-inducing by males and females. Conclusions: IPV research would benefit from a greater diversity of approaches to operationalization and measurement. The use of screeners plus follow-ups is one practical alternative that obtains more incident details. TDV may be more difficult to assess in gender-equivalent ways than other forms of youth victimization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

  September 03, 2012   doi: 10.1037/a0029706   open full text
• Apparent motives for aggression in the social context of the bar.
  Graham, Kathryn; Bernards, Sharon; Osgood, D. Wayne; Parks, Michael; Abbey, Antonia; Felson, Richard B.; Saltz, Robert F.; Wells, Samantha.
  Psychology of Violence. August 20, 2012
  Objective: Little systematic research has focused on motivations for aggression, and most of the existing research is qualitative and atheoretical. This study increases existing knowledge by using the theory of coercive actions to quantify the apparent motives of individuals involved in barroom aggression. Objectives were to examine: gender differences in the use of compliance, grievance, social identity, and excitement motives; how motives change during an aggressive encounter; and the relationship of motives to aggression severity. Method: We analyzed 844 narrative descriptions of aggressive incidents observed in large late-night drinking venues as part of the Safer Bars evaluation. Trained coders rated each type of motive for the 1,507 bar patrons who engaged in aggressive acts. Results: Women were more likely to be motivated by compliance and grievance, many in relation to unwanted sexual overtures from men, whereas men were more likely to be motivated by social identity concerns and excitement. Aggressive acts that escalated tended to be motivated by identity or grievance, with identity motivation especially associated with more severe aggression. Conclusions: A key factor in preventing serious aggression is to develop approaches that focus on addressing identity concerns in the escalation of aggression and defusing incidents involving grievance and identity motives before they escalate. In bars, this might include training staff to recognize and defuse identity motives and eliminating grievance-provoking situations such as crowd bottlenecks and poorly managed queues. Preventive interventions generally need to address more directly the role of identity motives, especially among men. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

  August 20, 2012   doi: 10.1037/a0029677   open full text