Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

9-2026

Document Type

Doctoral Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Psychology

Advisor

Valentina Nikulina

Committee Members

Veronica J. Hinton

Justin Storbeck

Yvette Caro

Melinda Cornwell

Subject Categories

Clinical Psychology

Keywords

dispositional mindfulness, executive function, inhibitory control, emotion regulation, intimate partner violence, emerging adults

Abstract

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a major public health concern that impacts an estimated 10 million men and women in the United States annually. IPV refers to a range of physical, sexual or psychological forms of aggression committed against a current or former romantic partner in the context of a relationship. The highest rates of IPV are observed in emerging adulthood, a developmental period between the ages of 18 to 25 that is significant for the transition from adolescence into adulthood, and the establishment of first meaningful intimate relationships. Although distal risk factors for IPV such as violence in the family of origin, and proximal risk factors such as psychopathology and substance abuse have been studied for decades, there are still areas in need of further exploration. More nuanced understanding of proximal mechanisms of action involved in IPV perpetration may provide valuable information for the development of potential interventions. Areas of further exploration include the roles of executive function and dispositional mindfulness in the process of emotion regulation and IPV. This dissertation aimed at addressing gaps in the literature by exploring these processes among emerging adult perpetrators engaged in less severe forms of IPV. Study aims were examined by investigating neuropsychological correlates of IPV and emotion regulation in the context of a laboratory-induced stress paradigm, the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) through the lens of I3 Theory. The first part of the study examined relationships between mindfulness, executive function, emotion regulation and IPV. The second part investigated whether mindfulness and executive function mediate affective experience after exposure to the TSST. The final part of the study explored whether mindfulness and executive function act together as parallel mediators of affective response in the context of the TSST. Together these investigations may provide information pertinent to the development of behavior modifying interventions that may reduce the risk for IPV perpetration among emerging adults. Theoretical, clinical and translational applications of results are discussed.

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