Relationship violence in young adulthood: A comparison of daters, cohabitors, and marrieds

Citation

Brown, Susan L. & Bulanda, Jennifer Roebuck (2008). Relationship violence in young adulthood: A comparison of daters, cohabitors, and marrieds. Social Science Research. vol. 37 (1) pp. 73-87

Abstract

Intimate partner violence is most common in early adulthood. A key developmental task of young adulthood is the formation of intimate partner relationships whether through dating, cohabitation, or marriage. Using the first and third waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we examine the linkages between relationship type and relationship violence perpetration and victimization among young adults, emphasizing the mediating role of relationship commitment. Among women, cohabitors report significantly higher levels of relationship violence than either marrieds or daters. Among men, cohabitors and marrieds report similar levels of relationship violence and both groups experience more violence perpetration and victimization than daters. Our hypothesis that the weaker relationship commitment of cohabitors accounts for their higher levels of violence is not supported.

URL

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0049089X0700035X

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Social Science Research

Author(s)

Brown, Susan L.
Bulanda, Jennifer Roebuck

Year Published

2008

Volume Number

37

Issue Number

1

Pages

73-87

DOI

10.1016/j.ssresearch.2007.06.002

Reference ID

911