Adolescent and family predictors of physical aggression, communication, and satisfaction in young adult couples: A prospective analysis.

Abstract

This study tested a model wherein the family conflict, depression, and antisocial behavior of 254 adolescents (mean age = 17 years; 63% female) are prospectively related to functioning within a marital (51%) or dating relationship in young adulthood (mean age = 23 years). Family aversive communication in adolescence and adolescent antisocial behavior predicted couple physical aggression. Family aversive communication predicted dyadic satisfaction and aversive couple communication for married women and dating men. Among those with partners who reported little antisocial behavior, adolescent antisocial behavior inversely predicted couple satisfaction and facilitative behavior. Partner antisocial behavior did not mediate the relation between adolescent characteristics and couple functioning. Findings emphasize the importance of the early family environment and psychopathology of the adolescent in the development of adaptive couple relationships.