3 - (SYM 59) Leveraging Incident-level Data to Determine Severity of Intimate Partner and Parent-to-child Aggressive Behaviors

Researchers have primarily studied intimate partner aggression (IPA) and parent-to-child aggression (PCA) using self-reported frequency of past year behaviors via the Conflict Tactics Scales (Straus et al., 1996, 1998). Generally, frequency scores are summed to estimate overall aggression. One common scoring approach also applies differential severity weights to specific behaviors presumed to cause the victim more harm. However, prior research has not confirmed the degree of harm experienced from various behaviors. Additionally, this approach emphasizes physically injurious behaviors, without consideration of psychological impacts (e.g., fear; Capaldi & Owen, 2001). 

Participants from the CIRCLES study who reported on their reactions to incidents of IPA (N = 168 participants; 846 incidents) and their child’s reactions to incidents of PCA (N = 172 participants; 1,192 incidents) were included. We examined linear multilevel models including the interaction of a contrast coded variable for each behavior (i.e., did or did not occur) with gender to predict the extent of the victim’s (i.e., respondent’s or child’s) fear immediately during aggressive incidents.   

Among women, the IPA behaviors experienced that contributed to the most within-incident fear were being pushed (r = .22), punched on the head (r = .20), thrown (r = .17), grabbed (r = .16), insulted (r = .13), hit on the head with an object (r = .12), accused of something (r = .11), and having something thrown at them (r = .10). Among men, the IPA behavior experienced that contributed to the most within-incident fear was their partner threatening to have an affair (r = .16), whereas other behaviors demonstrated similar weak effects. Among women, spanking (r = .30) and slapping (r = .14) their child were the PCA behaviors that elicited the most child fear. Spanking was men’s most severe behavior that elicited child fear (r = .29). Other within-incident indicators of behavior severity (i.e., pain, other distressing emotions), other specific IPA and PCA behaviors, and inconclusive low base rate behaviors will be presented and discussed.   
Results support that women disproportionately experience IPA as more severe relative to men and support the development of severity weights for both physical and psychological IPA behaviors. Both men’s and women’s use of spanking appears to be particularly impactful for the child. Cognitive-behavioral and community interventions may reduce family aggression and its impacts by targeting specific severe behaviors.