The present study aims to test a theoretical model in which child maltreatment and peer violence can predict psychological dating aggression. Results show that both emotional abuse and witnessing violence in family context, increase the odds to be involved both as perpetrator and victim in psychological dating aggression. Only for males we found a mediating role of bullying behaviors in the relation between emotional abuse and psychological dating aggression. Our results confirm the role of a violent family context and, for males, of peer bullying, for the development of abusive romantic relationships characterized by psychological aggression in the young adulthood.
Keywords: Child maltreatment, emotional abuse, bullying, witnessing violence, psychological dating aggression
Benedetta Emanuela Palladino, Sara Pini, Annalaura Nocentini, Ersilia Menesini, The violence cycle: child maltreatment, peer bullying and psychological dating aggression in "MALTRATTAMENTO E ABUSO ALL’INFANZIA" 3/2014, pp. 29-46, DOI:10.3280/MAL2014-003003