Citation

Miga EM, Hare AL, Allen JP, Manning N. Attach. Hum. Dev. 2010; 12(5): 463-481.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/14616734.2010.501971

PMID

20730640

PMCID

PMC2928157

Abstract

The relation of attachment states of mind and self reported attachment relationship styles to romantic partner aggression was examined in a community sample of 93 adolescents. Higher levels of insecure-preoccupied and insecure-dismissing states of mind, as assessed by the Adolescent Attachment Interview at age 14, were predictive, respectively, of perpetration and victimization of psychological aggression in romantic relationships four years later. Partners' romantic attachment anxiety was linked to both psychological and physical aggression perpetration in romantic relationships. Results are interpreted as suggesting the value of assessing aggression in adolescent romantic relationships in the context of broader patterns of regulation of affect and behavior via the attachment system.

Language: en