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When conflict escalates into intimate partner violence: The delicate nature of observed coercion in adolescent romantic relationships

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 August 2019

Thao Ha ,
Hanjoe Kim  and
Shannon McGill
Thao Ha*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
Hanjoe Kim
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological, Health & Learning Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
Shannon McGill
Affiliation:
Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Thao Ha, PhD, Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, 950 S. McAllister, Tempe, AZ 85287 Email: thaoha@asu.edu
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Abstract

We investigated how initial conflicts in adolescent romantic relationships escalate into serious forms of conflict, including intimate partner violence (IPV). We focused on whether adolescents’ micro-level interaction patterns, i.e., coercion and positive engagement, mediated between conflict and future IPV. The sample consisted of 91 heterosexual couples, aged 13 to 18 years (M = 16.5, SD = 0.99) from a diverse background (42% Hispanic/Latino, 42% White). Participants completed surveys about conflict at Time 1, and they participated in videotaped conflict and jealousy discussions. At Time 2, participants completed surveys about conflict and IPV, and an average daily conflict score was calculated from ecological momentary assessments. Multilevel hazard models revealed that we did not find support for dyadic coercion as a risk process leading to escalations in conflict. However, a higher likelihood of ending dyadic positive behaviors mediated between earlier levels of conflict and a latent construct of female conflict and IPV. Classic coercive dynamics may not apply to adolescent romantic relationships. Instead, not being able to reinforce levels of positivity during conflict predicted conflict and IPV as reported by females. The implications of these findings for understanding coercion in the escalation from conflict to IPV in adolescent romantic relationships are discussed.

Keywords

adolescent romantic relationshipscoercionintimate partner violencemultilevel hazard modelsobservational studies
Type
Special Issue Articles
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 31 , Special Issue 5: Honoring the Contributions and Legacy of Thomas Dishion , December 2019 , pp. 1729 - 1739
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019 

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