A Dyadic Analysis of the Associations Between Cumulative Childhood Trauma and Psychological Intimate Partner Violence: The Mediating Roles of Negative Urgency and Communication Patterns

Abstract

Prior research has suggested associations between cumulative childhood trauma (CCT), negative urgency, communication patterns, and psychological intimate partner violence (P‐IPV), but no study has examined these links using a dyadic approach. This study examined the sequential mediation of negative urgency and communication patterns in the link uniting CCT and P‐IPV in a sample of 501 heterosexual couples. Results suggest that more CCT events are associated with higher levels of negative urgency, which in turn are associated with a higher tendency to endorse a demand/withdraw and/or demand/demand communication pattern, and to perpetrate P‐IPV. Findings support the need to assess CCT, emotional self‐control, dyadic and communication patterns, and P‐IPV perpetration and victimization in couples seeking help in order to select interventions that will take into account the individual and dyadic nature of P‐IPV.