Oregon Social Learning Center, Eugene, OR, USA.
J Fam Psychol. 2012 Feb;26(1):105-14. doi: 10.1037/a0026722. Epub 2011 Dec 26.
Aggression between partners represents a potential guiding force in family dynamics. However, research examining the influence of partner aggression (physically and psychologically aggressive acts by both partners) on harsh parenting and young child adjustment has been limited by a frequent focus on low-risk samples and by the examination of partner aggression at a single time point. Especially in the context of multiple risk factors and around transitions such as childbirth, partner aggression might be better understood as a dynamic process. In the present study, longitudinal trajectories of partner aggression from birth to age 3 years in a large, high-risk, and ethnically diverse sample (N = 461) were examined. Specific risk factors were tested as predictors of aggression over time, and the longitudinal effects of partner aggression on maternal harsh parenting and child maladjustment were examined. Partner aggression decreased over time, with higher maternal depression and lower maternal age predicting greater decreases in partner aggression. While taking into account contextual and psychosocial risk factors, higher partner aggression measured at birth and a smaller decrease over time independently predicted higher levels of maternal harsh parenting at age 3 years. Initial level of partner aggression and change over time predicted child maladjustment indirectly (via maternal harsh parenting). The implications of understanding change in partner aggression over time as a path to harsh parenting and young children's maladjustment in the context of multiple risk factors are discussed.
伴侣之间的攻击行为代表了家庭动态中的一种潜在引导力量。然而，研究伴侣攻击（包括双方的身体和心理攻击行为）对严厉育儿和幼儿适应的影响，受到了一些限制，例如研究对象往往集中在低风险样本上，以及仅在单一时间点上检查伴侣攻击行为。特别是在存在多种风险因素的情况下，比如在分娩前后，伴侣攻击可能更被视为一个动态过程。在本研究中，研究人员对一个来自高风险、种族多样的大样本（N=461）的伴侣攻击从出生到 3 岁的纵向轨迹进行了检验。研究检验了特定的风险因素是否可以预测随时间推移的攻击行为，以及伴侣攻击对母亲严厉育儿和儿童适应不良的纵向影响。伴侣攻击随时间推移而减少，母亲抑郁程度较高和年龄较低预测伴侣攻击的减少幅度更大。在考虑到环境和心理社会风险因素的情况下，出生时伴侣攻击水平较高且随时间的变化较小，独立预测了 3 岁时母亲严厉育儿水平更高。伴侣攻击的初始水平和随时间的变化通过（母亲严厉育儿）间接预测了儿童适应不良。本研究探讨了将伴侣攻击随时间的变化理解为多种风险因素背景下严厉育儿和幼儿适应不良的途径的意义。
