Attachment, power/influence, conflict management strategies, and sexual aggression in emerging adult romantic relationships

Abstract

Sexual aggression among young people is a public health concern. Although many episodes take place in a couple's relationship,few studies have explored the importance of relational variables in this interpersonal context. Of special interest may be thevariables in a couple's functioning related to connectedness, power/influence, and conflict management. This dyadic longitudinal study aimed to examine the relationship between relational variables and sexual aggression in emerging adult romanticrelationships. The sample consisted of 133 young heterosexual Spanish couples (mean age = 19.44; SD = 1.41) who completed anonline questionnaire. At time 1 (T1), romantic attachment, partner's attempt to influence, perception of actual partner influence,conflict management strategies, and sexual aggression (perpetration and victimization) were assessed; 9 months later (T2), sexual aggression was assessed again. The data were analyzed following the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM). Malesreported higher levels of perpetration than females, and females reported more victimization. Attachment-related anxiety predicted perpetration and victimization in both males and females (T1). In addition, males reported more perpetration when theyperceived their partners as attempting to gain power in the relationship (T1) or having more actual influence in the romanticrelationship (T2); whereas in females, victimization was more likely when they perceived more partner influence (T1 and T2),and their partners reported more female attempts at influence (T2). Negative conflict management strategies also explained maleperpetration (T1 and T2) and female victimization (T1 and T2). These findings suggest the need to develop interventions aimedat promoting equity and relationship skills for emerging adults