Abstract
One topic of debate within the field of intimate violence involves the equivalence, or lack thereof, of male-perpetrated versus female-perpetrated violence. To inform this debate, we examined potential gender-related differences in the frequency of sustaining violence, the severity of violence sustained, and effects of violence on relationship satisfaction. Data were collected from 2 samples of heterosexual undergraduates in dating relationships. In both studies, men and women experienced violence at comparable frequencies, although men experienced more frequent moderate violence. Rates of severe violence were extremely low for both sexes across studies. In both investigations, only women experienced lower relationship satisfaction as a function of partner violence. In Study 1, relationship status moderated this effect, such that women in serious dating relationships were less satisfied than either women in less serious relationships or than men as a function of partner violence. In Study 2, women were less satisfied with violent relationships than men regardless of relationship status. We contend that gender-sensitive approaches to relationship violence are important to better understand and prevent both male- and female-perpetrated violence. Directions for future research efforts are outlined.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
REFERENCES
Avni, N. (1991). Battered wives: Characteristics of their courtship days. J. Interpers. Viol. 6:232–239.
Arias, I., and Beach, S. R. H. (1987). Validity of self reports of marital violence.J. Fam. Viol. 2:139–149.
Arias, I., and Pape, K. T. (1999). Psychological abuse: Implications for adjustment and commitment to leave violent partners. Viol. Vict. 14: 55–67.
Bernard, M. L., and Bernard, J. L. (1983). Violent intimacy: The family as a model for love relationships. Fam. Relat. 32:283–286.
Bethke, T. M., and DeJoy, D. M. (1993). An experimental study of factors influencing the acceptability of dating violence. J. Interpers. Viol. 8: 36–51.
Capaldi, D. M., and Crosby, L. (1997). Observed and reported psychological and physical aggression in young, at-risk couples. Soc. Dev. 6: 184–206.
Cohen, J. (1978). Partialed products are interactions; partialed powers are curve components. Psychol. Bull. 85: 858–866.
Fincham, F. D., and Bradbury, T. N. (1987). The assessment of marital quality: A re-evaluation.J. Marr. Fam. 49: 797–809.
Follingstad, D. R., Rutledge, L. L., Berg, B. J., Hause, E. S., and Polek, D. S. (1990). The role or emotional abuse in physically abusive relationships. J. Fam. Viol. 5: 107–120.
Foshee, V. A. (1996). Gender differences in adolescent dating abuse: Prevalence, types, and injuries. Health Educ. Res. 11: 275–286.
Gray, H. M., and Foshee, V. (1997). Adolescent dating violence: Differences between one-sided and mutually violent profiles. J. Interpers. Viol. 12: 126–141.
Harris, M.B. (1991). Effects of gender of aggressor, sex of target, and relationship on evaluations of physical aggression. J. Interpers. Viol. 6: 174–186.
Henton, J., Cate, R., Koval, J., Lloyd, S., and Christopher, S. (1983). Romance and violence in dating relationships. J. Fam. Issues 4: 467–482.
Heyman, R. E., Sayers, S. L., and Bellack, A. S. (1994). Global marital satisfaction versus marital adjustment: An empirical comparison of three measures. J. Fam. Psychol. 8: 432–446.
Howell, D.C. (1992). Statistical MethodsFor Psychology, 3rd edn.,PWS-KentCompany, Boston,MA.
Jezl, D. R., Molidor, C. E., and Wright, T. L. (1996). Physical, sexual, and psychological abuse in high school dating relationships: Prevalence rates and self-esteem issues. Child Adolesc.Soc. Work J. 13: 69–87.
Kasian, M., and Painter, S. L. (1992). Frequency and severity of psychological abuse in a dating population. J. Interpers. Viol. 7: 350–364.
Katz, J., Anderson, P., and Beach, S. R. H. (1997). Dating relationship quality: Effects of global self-verification and self-enhancement. J. Pers. Soc. Relat. 14: 829–842.
Katz, J., and Beach, S. R. H. (1997a). Romance in the crossfire: When do women's depressive symptoms influence partner relationship satisfaction? J. Soc. Clin. Psychol. 16: 243–258.
Katz, J., and Beach, S. R. H. (1997b). Self-verification and depressive symptoms in marriage and courtship: A multiple pathway model. J. Marr. Fam. 15: 903–914.
Katz, J., Beach, S. R. H., and Joiner, T. E., Jr. (1998).When does partner devaluation predict emotional distress? Prospective moderating effects of reassurance-seeking and self-esteem.Pers. Relation. 5: 409–421.
Katz, J., Beach, S. R. H., and Joiner, T. E., Jr. (1999). Contagious depression in dating couples.J. Soc. Clin. Psychol. 18: 1–13.
Kurz, D. (1995). Physical assaults by male partners: A major social problem. In Walsh, M. R.(ed.), Women, Men, and Gender, Yale University Press, New Haven, CT, pp. 222–232.
Locke, H. J., and Wallace, K. M. (1959). Short marital adjustment and prediction tests: Their reliability and validity. Marr. Fam. Living 21: 251–255.
Makepeace, J. M. (1981). Courtship violence among college students. Fam. Relat. 30: 97–102.
Makepeace, J. M. (1986). Gender differences in courtship violence victimization. Fam. Relat.35: 383–388.
Makepeace, J. (1989). Dating, living together, and courtship violence. In Pirog-Good, M. A.,and Stets, J. E. (eds.), Violence in Dating Relationships: Emerging Social Issues, Praeger Publishers, New York, pp. 94–107.
Marshall, L. L. (1996). Psychological abuse of women: Six distinct clusters J. Fam. Viol. 11:379–409.
McHugh, M. C., Frieze, I. H., and Browne, A. (1993). Research on battered woman and their assailants. In Denmark, F. L., and Paludi, M. A. (eds.), Psychology of Women: A Handbookof Issues and Theories, Greenwood Press, Westport, CT, pp. 513–552.
Nadien,6M. B., and Denmark, F. L. (1999). Females and Autonomy: A Lifespan Perspective,Allyn & Bacon, Boston.
Neidig, P. H., and Friedman, D. H. (1984). Spouse Abuse: A Treatment Program for Couples, Research Press, Champaign, IL.
Norton, R. (1983). Measuring marital satisfaction: A critical look at the dependent variable.J. Marr. Fam. 45: 141–151.
O'sullivan, L. F., and Byers, E. S. (1992). College students’ incorporation of initiator and restrictor roles in sexual dating interactions. J. Sex Res. 29: 435–446.
Riggs, D. S., O'Leary, K.D., and Breslin, F. C. (1990). Multiple correlates of physical aggression in dating couples. J. Interpers. Viol. 5: 61–73.
Rose, S., and Frieze, I. H. (1989). Young singles’ scripts for a first date. Gender Soc. 3: 258–268.
Spanier, G. B. (1976). Measuring dyadic adjustment: New scales for assessing the quality of marriage and similar dyads. J. Marr. Fam. 38: 15–28.
Stets, J. (1991). Cohabiting and marital aggression: The role of social isolation. J. Marr. Fam.53: 669–680.
Stets, J., and Pirog-Good, M. A. (1987). Violence in dating relationships. Soc. Psychol. Q. 50:237–246.
Stets, J., and Pirog-Good, M. A. (1989). Patterns of physical and sexual abuse for men and women in dating relationships: A descriptive analysis. J. Fam. Viol. 4: 63–76.
Straus, M. A. (1979). Measuring intrafamily conflict and violence: The Conflict Tactics (CT) scales. J. Marr. Fam. 41: 75–88.
Straus, M. A. (1995). Physical assaults by male partners: A major social problem. In Walsh, M. R. (ed.), Women, Men, and Gender, Yale University Press, New Haven, CT,pp. 210–221.
Straus, M. A., Hamby, S. L., Boney-McCoy, S., and Sugarman, D. B. (1996). The revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2): Development and preliminary psychometric data. J. Fam. Issues 17:283–316.
Vivian, D., and Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J. (1994). Are bi-directionally violent couples mutually victimized? A gender-sensitive comparison. Viol. Vict. 9: 107–124.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Katz, J., Kuffel, S.W. & Coblentz, A. Are There Gender Differences in Sustaining Dating Violence? An Examination of Frequency, Severity, and Relationship Satisfaction. Journal of Family Violence 17, 247–271 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016005312091
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016005312091