Interpersonal problems and personality features as mediators between attachment and intimate partner violence

Adult Attachment Questionnaire: evidence of validity in a sample of IPVAW offenders

Introduction

Adult attachment can be understood as a cognitive and emotional system concerning oneself and others, based on previous attachment experiences throughout life. This system automatically affects relationships with others. Because of its importance in the interpersonal domain, it has been studied on numerous occasions in research on intimate partner violence. The aim of this study was to obtain evidence of validity of the Adult Attachment Questionnaire (AAQ) in a sample of 331 men convicted of intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW).

Methods

The AAQ assesses adult attachment style in four dimensions that, together, yield four attachment categories. A psychometric analysis was performed, including reliability analysis and confirmatory factor analysis of the items, which ratified the factorial structure of the questionnaire. For a correct fit of the model, it was necessary to eliminate 4 of the items from the original scale.

Results

A latent profile analysis was also carried out, which identified four attachment styles: secure, preoccupied/anxious, avoidant/dismissing and fearful. Reliability indices were adequate. In general, the attachment profiles obtained ranges and means similar to those found in the general population study. The distribution of attachment styles was not equal: 50.57% of the participants presented secure attachment, 4.57% avoidant/dismissing attachment, 36.9% preoccupied/anxious, and 8.57% fearful.

Discussion

In conclusion, a valid and reliable instrument was determined based on the original AAQ scale to measure attachment in men convicted of IPVAW.

Psychological Factors Linked to Intimate Partner Violence and Childhood Maltreatment: On Dissociation as a Possible Bridge Symptom

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious health concern, occurring worldwide in various forms and settings. Over the past years, multiple sources reported an increase of IPV globally, partly related to COVID-19 restrictions. Childhood maltreatment enhances the risk of IPV, possibly via alterations in emotion regulation, attachment, maladaptive core beliefs, dissociation, and psychopathological symptoms. However, studies investigating these associations simultaneously are still needed. This study aimed to investigate association between IPV, childhood maltreatment severity, maladaptive schemata (mistrust, alienation, enmeshment), attachment anxiety, social support, emotion regulation, dissociation, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms. We further explored the complex interplay of all factors, accounting for their shared associations. An anonymous online survey was posted on international online platforms for people experiencing domestic violence and on research platforms. Regression analyses and graph-theoretical network analysis were used to explore associations between all variables. N = 434 participants (40% in treatment) completed the survey. IPV perpetration and victimization were highly correlated. Both were significantly associated with childhood maltreatment severity, early maladaptive schemata, dissociation, BPD features, and PTSD symptoms. When including all variables in one model, IPV was associated with dissociation, which indirectly linked it to childhood maltreatment experiences, PTSD symptoms, withdrawal, and self-blame. Our findings suggest that IPV perpetration and victimization often co-occur. Dissociation may be an important bridge symptom, linking IPV to childhood maltreatment experiences, PTSD symptoms, and maladaptive coping. Prospective studies are needed to corroborate these findings and to establish psychological mechanisms underlying IPV.

Relationship Dysfunction in Couples When One Partner Is Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder: Findings from a Pilot Study

Relationship dysfunction—marked by frequent conflicts—is one of the hallmark features of borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, the BPD couple as a dyad and partner-related features have rarely been taken into account. The aim of the present study was to investigate hormonal, personality, and relationship relevant factors, such as relationship satisfaction, attachment, and trauma in both partners within a dyad where one partner is diagnosed with BPD. The total sample consisted of 26 heterosexual couples. All studies were conducted at 2 p.m. Primary outcomes: Neo-Five-Factor-Inventory, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Experiences in Close Relationships Scale. Secondary outcomes: Problem List, Partnership Questionnaire, Questionnaire for Assessing Dyadic Coping. Upon questionnaire completion, one saliva sample was taken via passive drool to assess baseline cortisol and testosterone levels. Results showed that females with BPD have higher scores on childhood maltreatment, dysfunctional attachment styles, and neuroticism than mentally healthy females. Furthermore, they have more relationship-related problems and are less satisfied in their romantic relationship. Male partners of women with BPD showed lower testosterone levels, higher levels of childhood maltreatment, dysfunctional attachment styles, neuroticism, and openness compared with the healthy control partners. Furthermore, childhood trauma, neuroticism as well as dysfunctional attachment styles displayed a significant positive correlation with relationship-related problems. Traumatic childhood experiences, insecure attachment styles as well as neurotic personality characteristics contribute to increased relationship disruptions in couples. Relevant hormonal and psychosocial parameters in BPD partners should be taken into account when treating females with BPD.

Childhood Maltreatment, Borderline Personality Features, and Coping as Predictors of Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious mental and physical health concern worldwide. Although previous research suggests that childhood maltreatment increases the risk for IPV, the underlying psychological mechanisms of this relationship are not yet entirely understood. Borderline personality (BP) features may play an important role in the cycle of violence, being associated with interpersonal violence in both childhood and adult relationships. The present study investigated whether BP features mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and IPV, differentiating between perpetration and victimization, and taking maladaptive stress coping and gender into account. Self-reports on IPV, childhood trauma, BP features, and maladaptive stress coping were collected in a mixed (nonclinical and clinical) sample of 703 adults (n = 537 female, n = 166 male), using an online survey. A serial mediation analysis (PROCESS) was performed to quantify the direct effect of childhood maltreatment on IPV and its indirect effects through BP features and maladaptive coping. Childhood maltreatment severity significantly positively predicted IPV perpetration as well as victimization. BP features, but not coping, partially mediated this relationship. Follow-up analyses suggest that affective instability and interpersonal disturbances (e.g., separation concerns) play an important role in IPV perpetration, while interpersonal and identity disturbances may mediate the effect of childhood maltreatment on IPV victimization. In clinical practice, attention should be paid not only to histories of childhood abuse and neglect but also to BP features, which may be possible risk factors for IPV.

Insecure Attachment, Maladaptive Personality Traits, and the Perpetration of In-Person and Cyber Psychological Abuse

Although past findings show that insecure attachment and maladaptive personality traits confer risk for perpetrating intimate partner violence (IPV), little is known about how these factors may underpin psychological abuse (PA) committed in-person and via technology. This study examined whether borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits and psychopathic traits account for indirect effects of insecure attachment on the perpetration of face-to-face and cyber PA. Participants included a community-based sample (N = 200; M_age = 22.28 years) in Australia who completed a battery of online questionnaires. Results from bivariate correlations showed that elevated levels of attachment anxiety and avoidance, and higher scores on BPD traits and psychopathic traits, were significantly associated with the perpetration of both face-to-face and cyber PA. Findings from mediation analysis indicated that attachment anxiety was indirectly linked with the perpetration of both forms of PA via elevated scores on BPD traits and psychopathic traits. High levels of psychopathic traits accounted for the indirect effects of attachment avoidance on both forms of PA. Results support the theory that insecure attachment and maladaptive personality functioning might be involved in the development and/or maintenance of the perpetration of PA. These findings have implications for preventive and treatment programs for the perpetration of IPV in terms of shedding new light on potential risk factors for engagement in face-to-face and technology-based PA.

Violence against women in heterosexual couples: A review of psychological and medico-legal considerations

Intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) is the most pervasive violation of women's rights worldwide, causing devastating lifelong damage. Victims can suffer physical, emotional or mental health problems, and experience detrimental effects in social, psychological and relational health with their families, especially children. Due to the complexity regarding violence against women in heterosexual couples, it is important to make a clear distinction between psychological and physical mistreatment, which also includes psychological violence. This differentiation is important in determining different emotional and psychological aspects of mistreatment in order to understand the reasons why some women stay in such relationships and to explain the personality profiles of victims and perpetrators. In this short narrative review, we have combined perspectives of depth psychology and attachment theory from studies on trauma, traumatic bonds and the perpetrator/victim complex in gender violence. We have also considered the growing literature on IPVAW as it relates to the medico-legal field. Our search strategy included intimate partner violence, attachment styles, risk factors and the victim/perpetrator relationship. Distinguishing the different types of IPVAW is a necessary step in understanding the complexity, causes, correlations and consequences of this issue. Above all, it enables the implementation of effective prevention and intervention strategies.

Rejection Sensitivity, Self-Compassion, and Aggressive Behavior: The Role of Borderline Features as a Mediator

This study used mediation analyses to examine the assumption that the presence of borderline personality features mediates the relationship between rejection sensitivity (RS), self-compassion, and aggressive behavior. Sixty adults consisting of 31 participants diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and 29 participants with no diagnosis of borderline personality disorder were assessed for RS, self-compassion, aggressive behavior, and borderline personality features. Mediation was found for the total aggression score, anger score, and hostility score regarding both self-compassion and RS. Mediation was also found regarding RS and verbal and physical aggression, and regarding self-compassion and verbal and physical aggression. These findings provide evidence that the presence of borderline personality features is an important factor in explaining the associations linking RS and self-compassion to aggressive behavior. High RS and low self-compassion are associated with greater borderline personality features, which in turn relate to increased aggressive behavior.

Romantic attachment style and borderline personality pathology: A meta-analysis

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) implies profound impairment in interpersonal relationships, particularly romantic relationships (Daley, Burge, & Hammen, 2000). Insecure attachment bears striking resemblance to BPD traits in both empirical and theoretical work (Levy, Johnson, Clouthier, Scala, & Temes, 2015) and may be particularly suited for understanding the BPD-related deficits in romantic functioning. Despite several qualitative reviews concluding that secure attachment is disrupted in those with BPD traits, no consensus has emerged regarding the form of this disruption (Levy et al., 2015), with most reviews focusing on whether BPD is best captured as high levels of attachment anxiety or attachment avoidance. The purpose of the current review is to provide a quantitative synthesis of the strength and direction of the associations between attachment insecurity and BPD traits. Searches on PsycINFO and Pubmed resulted in 27 effect sizes that measured BPD and adult romantic attachment on the two primary dimensions of anxiety and avoidance (Fraley, Waller, & Brennan, 2000). Results demonstrated that attachment anxiety correlates most strongly with BPD traits (r = 0.48); however, attachment avoidance also evinced a significant effect (r = 0.30). Findings from regression analyses indicate that attachment anxiety and avoidance interact, suggesting a particularly strong relationship between attachment disorganization and BPD traits.

Ideal and actual partner assessments in male batterers with different attachment styles

Research analyzing male batterers' views of what constitutes an ideal partner is scarce, and rejected features have not been tested. Analyzing the association of attraction and rejection patterns with attachment could help us understand how these men choose their female partners and the biases that make violence against these women more likely. The objective of this study was to analyze these patterns in male batterers with different attachment styles, considering both their ideal and actual partner assessments and the discrepancies between the two. Participants were 108 male offenders who were serving sentences in Colombian prisons for violence against women. In addition to identifying their attachment styles (secure, dismissive, preoccupied, and fearful), the study had participants assess their ideal and actual partners. The results showed significant differences in their actual partner assessments and in ideal-actual partner discrepancies, but not in their ideals. Secure attachment was related to the best partner assessments (higher scores in positive features and lower scores in negative ones), whereas the fearfully attached participants stood out for showing the worst assessments (higher scores in negative features and lower scores in positive ones). The findings provide evidence of the association of attachment styles with attraction and rejection patterns and offer suggestions for tailoring interventions.

I Am Not in Your Shoes: Low Perspective Taking Mediating the Relation Among Attachment Insecurities and Physical Intimate Partner Violence in Chilean University Students

Guided by the attachment theory, this study tested the degree to which perspective taking mediates the effects of romantic attachment on the use of physical intimate partner violence (IPV) toward the partner. Participants consisted of 608 Chilean university students involved in a romantic relationship, among whom 44.2% of women and 34.7% of men reported inflicting at least one act of violence toward their partner during the previous year. Results from a structural equation model showed that the association between avoidance of intimacy and physical IPV is mediated by perspective taking for both men and women. However, perspective taking mediated the link between attachment anxiety and physical IPV in women only. Our findings underline the importance of the individual's sense of attachment security in relation to their ability to empathize with their partners, as well as prevent the perpetration of physical IPV against them.

Personality correlates of intimate partner violence subtypes: A latent class analysis

Perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) represent a heterogeneous group who engage in a variety of aggressive acts which often co-occur. However, few studies take this co-occurrence into consideration. Failure to consider overlapping forms of IPV confounds understanding of risk factors for physical IPV, which in turn undermines identification, prevention, and intervention efforts. Though rarely studied in emerging adults, personality variables have recently been identified as important correlates of IPV. The primary aims of the current studies are to identify distinct subgroups of moderate and severe psychological and physical IPV and personality covariates of class membership. Two studies were conducted at different public regional universities in the northeast (n = 500; n = 497). Both samples were about two-thirds female, approximately one-half White, one-fifth Black, and one-quarter Latino, of any race. Latent Class Analysis identified three subgroups in both studies: low, moderate, and severe IPV. The severe and moderate IPV groups included those who reported threats and moderate physical IPV while the severe IPV group also included those who engaged in severe and injurious forms of physical IPV. Multinomial regression analysis showed that impulsive aggression discriminated moderate and severe from low IPV (Study 1), and more frequent emotionally abusive and controlling behavior, a hostile-dominant interpersonal style and trait aggression discriminated among all three groups, with severe IPV having the greatest likelihood of controlling behavior and aggression (Study 2). IPV is represented by distinct subgroups that vary by severity of IPV with different personality covariates. General aggressive and domineering tendencies in relationships characterize those engaging in severe IPV.

Interpersonal dysfunction in personality disorders: A meta-analytic review

Personality disorders are defined in the current psychiatric diagnostic system as pervasive, inflexible, and stable patterns of thinking, feeling, behaving, and interacting with others. Questions regarding the validity and reliability of the current personality disorder diagnoses prompted a reconceptualization of personality pathology in the most recent edition of the psychiatric diagnostic manual, in an appendix of emerging models for future study. To evaluate the construct and discriminant validity of the current personality disorder diagnoses, we conducted a quantitative synthesis of the existing empirical research on associations between personality disorders and interpersonal functioning, defined using the interpersonal circumplex model (comprising orthogonal dimensions of agency and communion), as well as functioning in specific relationship domains (parent-child, family, peer, romantic). A comprehensive literature search yielded 127 published and unpublished studies, comprising 2,579 effect sizes. Average effect sizes from 120 separate meta-analyses, corrected for sampling error and measurement unreliability, and aggregated using a random-effects model, indicated that each personality disorder showed a distinct profile of interpersonal style consistent with its characteristic pattern of symptomatic dysfunction; specific relationship domains affected and strength of associations varied for each personality disorder. Overall, results support the construct and discriminant validity of the personality disorders in the current diagnostic manual, as well as the proposed conceptualization that disturbances in self and interpersonal functioning constitute the core of personality pathology. Importantly, however, contradicting both the current and proposed conceptualizations, there was not evidence for pervasive dysfunction across interpersonal situations and relationships. (PsycINFO Database Record

Romantic Attachment, Conflict Resolution Styles, and Teen Dating Violence Victimization

Although research on dating violence has increased in the last decades, little is known about the role of romantic attachment and conflict resolution in understanding victimization by an intimate partner among adolescents. This study examined the relationships between insecure attachment styles, destructive conflict resolution strategies, self-reported and perceived in the partner, and psychological and physical victimization by a dating partner in 1298 adolescents (49% girls). Anxious attachment was related to both forms of victimization via self-reported conflict engagement and conflict engagement attributed to the partner among boys and girls. Moreover, both insecure attachment styles were also indirectly linked to victimization via self-reported withdrawal and conflict engagement perceived in the partner, but only among boys. The implications of the findings for promoting constructive communication patterns among adolescents for handling their relationship conflicts are discussed.

Psychological and relational correlates of intimate partner violence profiles among pregnant adolescent couples

We sought to identify relationship and individual psychological factors that related to four profiles of intimate partner violence (IPV) among pregnant adolescent couples: no IPV, male IPV victim only, female IPV victim only, mutual IPV, and how associations differ by sex. Using data from a longitudinal study of pregnant adolescents and partners (n = 291 couples), we used a multivariate profile analysis using multivariate analysis of covariance with between and within-subjects effects to compare IPV groups and sex on relationship and psychological factors. Analyses were conducted at the couple level, with IPV groups as a between-subjects couple level variable and sex as a within-subjects variable that allowed us to model and compare the outcomes of both partners while controlling for the correlated nature of the data. Analyses controlled for age, race, income, relationship duration, and gestational age. Among couples, 64% had no IPV; 23% male IPV victim only; 7% mutual IPV; 5% female IPV victim only. Relationship (F = 3.61, P < .001) and psychological (F = 3.17, P < .001) factors differed by IPV group, overall. Attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, relationship equity, perceived partner infidelity, depression, stress, and hostility each differed by IPV profile (all P < .01). Attachment anxiety, equity, depression and stress had a significant IPV profile by sex interaction (all P < .05). Couples with mutual IPV had the least healthy relationship and psychological characteristics; couples with no IPV had the healthiest characteristics. Females in mutually violent relationships were at particularly high risk. Couple-level interventions focused on relational issues might protect young families from developing IPV behaviors. Aggr. Behav. 43:26-36, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Romantic Attachment and Physical Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration in a Chilean Sample: The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation Difficulties

Despite evidence that adult attachment insecurity has been linked to the perpetration of physical intimate violence, the mechanisms underlying this link need further exploration. The goal of this study was to evaluate the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties in the association between romantic attachment and the use of physical intimate partner violence. To this end, 611 students recruited from Chilean universities completed the Experiences in Close Relationships questionnaire, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses revealed that emotion regulation difficulties mediated the relationship between dimensions of romantic attachment (anxiety over abandonment and avoidance of intimacy) and physical violence perpetration among both male and female participants. Implications for future research and clinical practice are presented herein.

A systematic review on the relationship between antisocial, borderline and narcissistic personality disorder diagnostic traits and risk of violence to others in a clinical and forensic sample

Risk assessments identify the presence of a Personality Disorder diagnosis as relevant to future violence. At present, risk assessments focus on the presence of the disorder rather than identifying key traits related to risk. Systematic searches of three databases were conducted from January 2000 until August 2014. Of 92,143, 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. A lack of empirical research was found focusing on individual traits; instead most considered PD diagnosis as a sole entity. A preliminary model has been developed detailing the link between potential interactions of diagnostic traits and risk of violence. Recommendations for future research are made.

Borderline personality disorder and related constructs as risk factors for intimate partner violence perpetration

In this manuscript we systematically reviewed 29 articles from 2010 to 2014 that addressed the association between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration, with particular attention paid to the role of perpetrator sex. Our primary objective was to provide a summary of (1) the operationalization and measurement of BPD and IPV, (2) mechanisms of the BPD-IPV association, and (3)the current understanding of the role of perpetrator sex related to BPD and IPV. We observed three distinct operational definitions of BPD which are measured in a variety of ways. IPV measurement tends to be more consistent. Further, emotion perception, impulsivity, attachment, and substance use are proposed mechanisms to explain the BPD IPV relation. The findings regarding potential perpetrator sex differences in the BPD-IPV association are mixed. Finally, we also provide recommendations for future research and clinical practice.