Citation

Graña Gómez JL, Cuenca Montesino ML. Psicothema 2014; 26(3): 343-348.

Affiliation

Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Departamento de Psicología de la Universidad de Oviedo, Publisher Colegio Oficial de Psicológicas de Asturias)

DOI

10.7334/psicothema2013.262

PMID

25069553

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The goal of the present study is to analyze the prevalence of bidirectional psychological and physical aggression in intimate partner relationships using the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS-2), and to determine the influence of the variables age and relationship duration.

METHOD: The participants were 3,578 heterosexual couples from the Region of Madrid.

RESULTS: Bidirectional aggression was the most frequent pattern in the dyadic types of aggression examined; we analyzed the prevalences of mutual psychological (46%) and physical aggression (4%), reciprocal psychological (41%) and physical aggression (3%), and bidirectional psychological (80%) and physical aggression (25%). The variables age and relationship duration were significant predictors of bidirectional physical and psychological aggression. Younger couples and couples with less than a one-year relationship duration assaulted each other the most.

CONCLUSIONS: These data provide an objective view of bidirectional aggression in Spanish community samples and serve as a reference point for prevention and intervention programs and forensic reports.

Language: en