Citation

Demaris AA. J. Marriage Fam. 2000; 62(3): 683-692.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, National Council on Family Relations, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1741-3737.2000.00683.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The focus of this study was the extent to which physical aggression and, to a lesser extent, verbal conflict predict relationship dissolution in a national sample. Data were from a 5- to 7-year follow-up of 3,508 married and cohabiting couples in the National Survey of Families and Households. Controlling for demographic factors and verbal conflict, male violence significantly elevated the risk of disruption between waves. Female violence was not a predictor of disruption. Much of the effect of male violence was accounted for by its association with reduced relationship quality. The impact of male violence did not appear to differ according to the female partner's socioeconomic resources or whether couples were in formal or informal unions.