A DEVELOPMENTAL MODEL OF PARTNER VIOLENCE: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY
Open Access
Author:
Makin-Byrd, Kerry Noel
Graduate Program:
Psychology
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
March 17, 2009
Committee Members:
Karen Linn Bierman, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor Karen Linn Bierman, Committee Chair/Co-Chair Amy Dyanna Marshall, Committee Member Doug Coatsworth, Committee Member Sheri A. Berenbaum, Committee Member
Keywords:
conduct problems partner violence
Abstract:
Partner violence is a crime of national concern and has significant psychological and physical injury ramifications. This study tested a developmental model of partner violence. Three
cohorts of children (n=754) were followed from kindergarten entry to the age of 18 years. Structural equation models revealed that poor parent-child relationship quality and childhood externalizing problems at age 6 years predicted partner violence indirectly via its influence on early adolescent conduct problems. Person-oriented group comparisons found no childhood risk differences between those who engaged in partner violence and those who did not. Implications for prevention efforts and future research directions will be discussed.
