Article

Gender Differences in Insecure Attachment Styles, Egalitarian Gender Roles, and Attitudes Toward Dating Violence Among College Students: A Moderated Mediation Model

Taylor & Francis
Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma
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Abstract

The existing literature on dating violence identifies a number of antecedents to dating violence but few studies situate attitudes toward dating violence within attachment theory and the gender role perspective while also accounting for gender differentiations in attitudes toward dating violence. This is a correlational study examining the relationships between attachment styles, egalitarian gender roles, and attitudes toward dating violence. In a sample of 574 college students, results demonstrated a significant low level correlation between avoidant attachment style, egalitarian gender roles, and attitudes toward dating violence. Mediation analysis results showed that egalitarian gender roles significantly mediate the relationship between avoidant attachment dimension and attitudes toward dating violence, while moderation analysis showed that gender is a significant moderator for avoidantly attached individuals. The conditional indirect effect and index of moderated mediation were also significant for the avoidant attachment dimension. The results are discussed in light of the literature on attachment and gender roles. Supplemental data for this article is available at [INSERT LINK FOR REFERENCES].

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... These gender-specific tendencies in attachment styles underline the importance of disaggregated data analysis to ensure accurate representation and interpretation of attachment dimensions. This approach aligns with the broader literature on attachment, which emphasizes how gender influences attachment behaviors and patterns (Çelik & Tanrıverdi, 2023;Gugová & Heretik, 2011). By considering these gender differences, the analysis can more effectively capture the complex dynamics of attachment and provide a clearer understanding of the underlying patterns. ...
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Roazzi, A., Moura, M. A. R., Toni, A., & Di Pentima, L. (2024). Assessing Childhood Attachment: Psychometric Adaptation of the “Attachment in Friendship Relationships” Scale with Visual Aids / Avaliando o Apego Infantil: Adaptação psicométrica da escala “Apego nas Relações de Amizade” com Recursos Visuais. Revista AMAzônica (ISSN 1983-3415 - eISSN 2558-1441), 18(1), 581-628. Retrieved from: https://tinyurl.com/2utsskpx // // // Abstract: The present study addresses a significant gap in psychological research by developing and validating the ARA ("Apego nas Relações de Amizade"; in English, Attachment in Friendship Relationships - AFR) scale, tailored explicitly for the adolescent population. Adolescence is a critical developmental phase during which attachment styles profoundly influence personal development and social competencies. This scale is an adaptation of the well-established "Experiences in Close Relationships" (ECR) questionnaire, originally developed by Brennan, Clark, and Shaver in 1998, to assess attachment in adult romantic relationships. The ARA/AFR fills the void of appropriate instruments by offering a self-assessment tool relevant to everyday peer relationship experiences. Its user-friendly format allows for both individual and group administration, making it suitable for educational and therapeutic settings. The ARA/AFR was validated through multidimensional and factor analysis using a sample of 805 adolescents aged 12 to 17. The study revealed a two-factor structure (Anxiety and Avoidance) consistent with theoretical constructs. This tool provides a culturally relevant and age-appropriate self-assessment method. The normative scores facilitate categorizing participants into classical attachment styles: secure, anxious, avoidant, and fearful, broadening its applicability in various professional settings. The ARA/AFR is thus positioned as a valuable instrument for research, education, and therapy, aiding in understanding and supporting adolescent attachment dynamics. Keywords: Attachment; Adolescent; Friendship; Relationships; Internal Working Model. // // // Resumo: O presente estudo aborda uma lacuna significativa na pesquisa psicológica ao desenvolver e validar a escala ARA ("Apego nas Relações de Amizade"; em inglês, Attachment in Friendship Relationships - AFR), adaptado especificamente para a população adolescente. A adolescência é uma fase crítica do desenvolvimento durante a qual os estilos de apego influenciam profundamente o desenvolvimento pessoal e as competências sociais. Esta escala é uma adaptação do bem estabelecido questionário "Experiences in Close Relationships" (ECR), desenvolvido inicialmente por Brennan, Clark e Shaver em 1998, para avaliar o apego em relacionamentos românticos adultos. A ARA/AFR preenche a lacuna de instrumentos apropriados, oferecendo uma ferramenta de autoavaliação relevante para as experiências diárias de relacionamento entre pares. Seu formato fácil de usar permite a administração individual e em grupo, tornando-o adequado para ambientes educacionais e terapêuticos. A ARA/AFR foi validada por meio de análise multidimensional e fatorial utilizando uma amostra de 805 adolescentes de 12 a 17 anos. O estudo revelou uma estrutura de dois fatores (Ansiedade e Evitamento) consistente com os construtos teóricos. Esta ferramenta fornece um método de autoavaliação culturalmente relevante e adequado à idade. Os escores normativos facilitam a categorização dos sujeitos em estilos de apego clássicos: seguro, ansioso, evitante e desorganizado, ampliando sua aplicabilidade em diversos ambientes profissionais. O ARA/AFR posiciona-se assim como um instrumento valioso para investigação, educação e terapia, auxiliando na compreensão e apoiando a dinâmica de apego dos adolescentes. Palavras-chave: Apego; Adolescente; Amizade; Relacionamentos; Modelo Operacionais Internos.
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College students are a vulnerable population for dating violence (DV) because of the social environment in which they live and interact with other students. Campus climate surveys are considered best practice for gathering information about the severity and cause of college DV; however, there are still unanswered questions as to why DV remains an alarming public health concern among college students. The aim of this systematic literature review was to examine DV risk factors specific to college students with a special focus on methodological factors and gaps in the literature. Databases EBSCO, Scopus, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, ERIC, and PubMed were searched for articles published between 2006 and 2016, resulting in 23 articles that met inclusion criteria for this review. Very few studies were conducted at private universities (n = 4). Most researchers used descriptive cross-sectional surveys (n = 22), while only one utilized a mixed-methods approach. Measurement scales used to collect DV rates were similar across studies, yet the definition of DV was inconsistent. Types and severity of DV varied across studies, but overall, females were more likely to perpetrate and/or experience DV than males. Individual risk factors (e.g., substance use, risky sexual behaviors) were identified more often than family risk factors (e.g., intergenerational violence) and peer and social risk factors (e.g., Greek-life or athletic team membership, relationship type). A better understanding of new college relationships is critical to identify modifiable risk factors for DV. Recommendations for future practice and research are also discussed.
Article
Peer victimization and dating violence victimization have serious negative effects on adolescents' health, and they seem to be related. However, the mediating processes in this relationship have not been sufficiently analyzed. The purpose of this study was to analyze the direct and indirect relationships between peer victimization and dating violence victimization, considering the possible mediator role of loneliness, depressed mood, and life satisfaction. These relationships are analyzed in boys and girls, and in early and middle adolescence. From an initial sample of 1,038 Spanish adolescents, those who had or had had in the past 12 months a dating relationship (647 adolescents; 49.1% boys, M = 14.38, SD = 1.43) were included in this study. Multigroup structural equation modeling was used to test a double mediation model simultaneously for boys and girls, testing the invariance of the relationships among variables across genders. The same technique was used to test the model simultaneously for early and middle adolescence, testing the invariance of the relationships among variables across age groups. Results revealed a positive direct relationship between peer victimization and dating violence victimization, as well as the partial mediating role of loneliness and life satisfaction in this relationship. The mediator role of depressed mood was not supported. The same mediational model was confirmed in boys and girls, and in early and middle adolescence. These results highlight the important role of loneliness and life satisfaction to explain the link between peer victimization and dating violence victimization in adolescence. These findings may be useful for developing intervention programs aimed at preventing situations of multiple victimization during adolescence.
Article
Although dating violence is prevalent among college students, little is known about how both attachment style and participation in risky behaviors contribute to this pattern of violence. To address this literature gap, we examine the role of poor parenting, child abuse, attachment style, and risky sexual and drug use behaviors on dating violence perpetration among 1,432 college students (51% female). Path analysis results revealed that females were more likely to report greater attachment anxiety but lower attachment avoidance compared with males. Correlates of attachment anxiety included child physical abuse, witnessing parental violence, and poorer maternal relationship quality whereas attachment avoidant behavior was linked to more physical abuse and poorer maternal relationship quality. Females were more likely to perpetrate dating violence as were those with greater attachment anxiety and lower attachment avoidance. Other correlates of dating violence perpetration included sexual and drug risk behaviors. Finally, distal factors (i.e., more child physical abuse and poorer maternal relationship quality) also were associated with dating violence perpetration. Study implications are also discussed.
Article
The collective influence of identity styles and romantic attachment insecurity on psychological dating aggression was examined for 1,975 adolescents living in a southern state in the United States. Informational identity style related negatively to psychological dating aggression, but anxious romantic attachment related positively to this behavior. Diffuse-avoidant identity style and using psychological dating aggression were associated positively, whereas normative identity style and receiving psychological dating aggression were associated negatively. In addition, the combination of high informational or normative identity style with high avoidant romantic attachment was linked to lower psychological dating aggression. Our findings build on the previously noted parallelism between identity styles and romantic attachment insecurity by showing how they work together to explain variability in psychological dating aggression.
Article
Previous research has demonstrated a positive association between child maltreatment and adult interpersonal trauma (Arata, 2000; Crawford & Wright, 2007). From a betrayal trauma theory perspective, evidence suggests that the experience of trauma high in betrayal (e.g., child maltreatment by parents or guardians) increases ones risk of betrayal trauma as an adult (Gobin & Freyd, 2009). However, the mechanisms explaining these associations are not well understood; attachment theory could provide further insight. Child maltreatment is associated with insecure attachment (Baer & Martinez, 2006; Muller et al., 2000). Insecure attachment is also associated with deficits in interpersonal functioning and risk for intimate partner violence, suggesting insecure attachment may mediate the relationship between child maltreatment and the experience of betrayal trauma as an adult. The current study tested this hypothesis in a sample of 601 college students. Participants completed online questionnaires including the Child Abuse and Trauma Scale (CATS), the Experiences in Close Relationships - Revised (ECR-R) and the Brief Betrayal Trauma Survey (BBTS). Results indicated that child maltreatment is associated with adult betrayal trauma and anxious attachment partially mediates this relationship.
Article
This study examined the relationships among enculturation, attitudes supporting intimate partner violence (IPV-supporting attitudes), and gender role attitudes among one of the largest Asian Indian population groups in the US. Data were collected via computer-assisted telephone interviews with a random sample of Gujarati men and women aged 18-64 in Metropolitan Detroit. Using structural equation modeling, we modeled the effects of three components of enculturation (behavior, values, and community participation) on gender role attitudes and IPV-supporting attitudes among married respondents (N = 373). Analyses also accounted for the effects of respondent age, education, religious service attendance, perceived financial difficulty, and lengths of residence in the US. The second-order, overall construct of enculturation was the strongest predictor of IPV-supporting attitudes (standardized B = 0.61), but not gender role attitudes. Patriarchal gender role attitudes were positively associated with IPV-supporting attitudes (B = 0.49). In addition to the overall effect of the enculturation construct, two of the components of enculturation had specific effects. "Enculturation-values" had a specific positive indirect association with IPV-supporting attitudes, through its relationship with patriarchal gender role attitudes. However, "enculturation-community participation" was negatively associated with IPV-supporting attitudes, suggesting the importance of community-based prevention of IPV among this immigrant population group.
Article
Within a developmental psychopathology framework, the current study examined adolescent conflict (age 16) with families, best friends, and dating partners as mediators in the prospective pathway from exposure to interparental violence (EIPV) in early childhood (0-64 months) to dating violence perpetration and victimization in early adulthood (age 23). Adolescent conflict was predicted to partially mediate EIPV and dating violence with significant direct paths from EIPV to dating violence, given the extant literature on the salience of early childhood EIPV for later maladjustment. Participants (N = 182; 99 males, 83 females; 67 % Caucasian, 11 % African-American, 18 % other, 4 % unreported) were drawn from a larger prospective study of high-risk mothers (aged 12-34 years) that followed their children from birth through adulthood. EIPV and adolescent conflict were rated from interviews with mothers and participants, and dating violence (physical perpetration and victimization) was assessed with the Conflict Tactics Scale. Path analyses showed that EIPV in early childhood (a) directly predicted dating violence perpetration in early adulthood and (b) predicted conflict with best friends, which in turn predicted dating violence perpetration. Although mediation of best friend conflict was not evident, indirect effects of EIPV to dating violence were found through externalizing behaviors in adolescence and life stress in early adulthood. Findings highlight that conflict with best friends is affected by EIPV and predicts dating violence, suggesting that it may be a promising target for relationship-based interventions for youth with EIPV histories. Furthermore, deleterious early experiences and contemporaneous risk factors are salient predictors of dating violence.
Article
Objectives: We assessed the relationship between gender attitudes, identified as a critical component of violence prevention, and abuse toward dating partners among adolescent male athletes. Methods: Our sample comprised 1699 athletes from 16 high schools in northern California who were surveyed between December 2009 and October 2010 in the larger Coaching Boys Into Men trial. We used logistic regression to assess the association between gender-equitable attitudes, bystander behavior, and recent abuse incidents. Results: Athletes with more gender-equitable attitudes and greater intention to intervene were less likely (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.36; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.28, 0.46; and AOR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.48, 0.75, respectively) and athletes who engaged in negative bystander behavior were more likely (AOR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.10, 1.35) to perpetrate abuse against their female dating partners. Conclusions: Despite the shift among bystander intervention programs toward gender neutrality, our findings suggest a strong association between gender attitudes and dating violence. Programs designed for adolescents should include discussion of gender attitudes and target bystander behavior, because these components may operate on related but distinct pathways to reduce abuse.
Article
In this study we investigated gender role attitudes, religion, and spirituality as predictors of beliefs about violence against women in a sample of 316 White college students. Results indicated that gender role attitudes were the best overall predictor of domestic violence beliefs. Spirituality also contributed to the models for men and women. Implications and intervention strategies to address dating violence among college students are discussed.
Article
This article examines attitudes related to feminism and gender equality by evaluating the trends in, and determinants of, women and men's attitudes from 1974 to 1998. Past accounts suggest two clusters of explanations based on interests and exposure. Using these, we examine opinions on abortion, sexual behavior, public sphere gender roles, and family responsibilities. We find that attitudes have continued to liberalize and converge with the exception of abortion attitudes. The determinants of feminist opinion vary across domains, but have been largely stable. While not identical, the predictors of men and women's opinions are similar. The results suggest the need for more attention to the mechanisms underlying the production of feminist opinions and theoretical integration of both interests and exposure in a dynamic process.
Article
Adult attachment theory and research specifically related to men’s and women’s intimate partner violence (IPV) are reviewed. In an effort to help explain gender similarities, two different IPV patterns predicted by individual differences in adult attachment orientations are proposed. Gender differences are addressed, including by critiquing the assessment of outcome severity in previous research. Applications to practice and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Article
This study presents a German-language version of the sex-role egalitarianism scale (SRES-B) L. A. King, & D. W. King, 1993]. The SRES measures a person’s attitude toward egalitarianism between women and men. It has been normed on different populations, but there was no German version of the scale. The purpose of the present study was to translate and assess the psychometric properties of the SRES-B on a German population (n=379). As expected, sex, age, and educational level affected the scores of individuals on the scale. The results of factor analyses of the domain scores and correlations of subscales demonstrate a unidimensionality of the construct. The quality of the psychometric properties of items and scale was satisfactory. Implications and future directions for research are discussed.
Article
To explore the associations among dating violence (DV), aggression, relationship power, and depressive symptoms. A cross-sectional survey secondary analysis. An urban, school based health center, October, 2009 through May, 2009. Low income, adolescent girls (n = 155), ages 14-18. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted to illustrate patterns and associations among variables. Key variables included depressive symptoms, DV victimization and aggression, and relationship power. We used mediation analyses to determine the direct and indirect effects among variables. Both DV victimization and aggression were reported frequently. Furthermore, DV victimization had a significant direct effect on depression and an indirect effect through relationship power. Depressive symptoms and relationship power were associated with DV aggression. Although relationship power did have a significant inverse effect on depressive symptoms, it was not through DV aggression. Complex associations remain between mental health and DV; however, relationship power partially accounts for DV victimization's effect on depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms are associated with DV victimization and aggression; therefore, nurses should address relationship power in clinical and community interventions.
Article
This study investigates attitudes toward psychological and physical dating violence among college students in mainland China (n = 245). The results of this study indicate that among our sample of college students in mainland China, men and women were relatively similar in their attitudes toward male perpetrated and female perpetrated physical dating violence and female perpetrated psychological dating violence. As has been found in previous research, men and women in our sample were more accepting of female perpetrated physical and psychological dating violence than male perpetrated physical and psychological dating violence. Finally, among several variables that predicted dating violence attitudes, shame emerged as a potentially important variable to include in future studies on dating violence in Chinese populations.
Doctoral dissertation
  • V L Downing
Master’s dissertation
  • Y Kurt
Self-esteem, attachment, gender roles and social approval as predictors of the attitudes toward dating violence
  • R Turan
  • B Duy
  • Turan R.
Turan, R., & Duy, B. (2020). Self-esteem, attachment, gender roles and social approval as predictors of the attitudes toward dating violence. Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Journal, 10(56), 1-36. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/tpdrd/issue/53508/712366