Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

9-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Program

Psychology

Advisor

Valentina Nikulina

Committee Members

Veronica Hinton

Desiree Byrd

Justin Storbeck

Kerstin Unger

Subject Categories

Clinical Psychology

Keywords

Neuropsychology, Trauma

Abstract

Background: Over 12 million people annually experience intimate partner violence (IPV) in the United States. Emerging adulthood has the highest rates of IPV across the lifespan. While many theories attempt to explain why IPV rates are markedly increased during this age period, researchers call for more empirical studies to understand processes occurring during this period that result in increased IPV perpetration. Of the studies that assess IPV perpetration, samples generally consisted of male batterers that perpetrated severe IPV. Trauma history and PTSD symptoms have been seen as risk factors for IPV perpetration. Cognitive risk factors for IPV perpetration, such as neuropsychological risk factors, are studied less often than psychopathology, social learning from family systems, and societal factors in relation to IPV perpetration risk. Despite theories pointing to the potential roles of working memory in perpetration of aggression, mixed results have been found and studies were conducted in non-diverse samples of adult males. Thus, researchers call for more studies examining the role of working memory in IPV perpetration. The present study aimed to address these gaps within the literature by examining the relationship between trauma, PTSD, and the full range of IPV within emerging adults through recruitment of a diverse sample. Additionally, the study sought to add to the literature by examining whether working memory influences the relationship between trauma, PTSD symptoms and IPV. Furthermore, baseline and post-stress task measures of working memory were assessed given studies pointing to real-world correlates of executive functions measured under stress. Methods: A sample of 47 (82% female) emerging adults completed the study. Measures of trauma history, PTSD symptoms, and IPV perpetration were collected. Working memory was assessed via virtual platform before and after a social stress task. Findings: Trauma history was associated with sexual coercion (p=.017). However, trauma history was not associated with physical assault or psychological aggression. PTSD symptomology was associated with psychological aggression (p=.009) and significantly predicted physical assault (p Conclusions: Trauma history and PTSD symptomology were related to certain types of IPV. Future studies should continue to explore whether working memory can influence these relationships. Results also suggest that instead of baseline working memory, individual’s working memory abilities under stress may have more implications for whether individuals will perpetrate intimate partner violence. Prior studies have seen significant difficulty in individuals’ utilization of cognitive emotion regulation strategies under stress. Poor working memory under stress in the present study may indicate a potential mechanism by which cognitive emotion regulation strategies become less effective which may lead to IPV perpetration, particularly sexual coercion. Results of this study potentially empirically support social-information-processing theories that suggest deficits in working memory may lead to maladaptive behavior.

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