Physical and Psychological Aggression in At-Risk Young Couples: Stability and Change in Young Adulthood

Abstract

Physical and psychological aggression was examined over a 2 1/2-year period for at-risk young couples. It was predicted, first, that there would be persistence in any physical aggression across time in the group of couples who stayed together; second, that stability in levels of aggression toward a partner would be higher for men who remained with the same partner compared to men who repartnered; third, that increases in levels of aggression would occur over time for couples with the same partners; and fourth, that changes in aggression over time would be concordant for couples. Measures of aggression included reports of aggression and observed aggression. Findings indicated considerable stability in aggression for the same-, but not for the different-, partner group.