ABSTRACT
There is an abundance of previous research proving that childhood abuse and adult domestic violence is an increasingly serious problem (Smith Slep, & O’Leary, 2005). However, while studies have shown that lesbian intimate battering occurs as frequently, if not more than, heterosexual domestic violence (Gosselin, [ARF1] 2003; Niolon, 2002), it remains understudied. Therefore, this study not only examines the relationship between childhood abuse and intimate lesbian violence but also secure and insecure attachment styles. Children who witness domestic violence or who are victims of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse are likely to repeat or engage in violent relationships later in life (O’Keefe, 1997; van der Kolk, 2009). Victimized children are also at a greater risk of developing unhealthy, insecure ways of relating (Siegel & Hartzell, 2003).
Unexpectedly, childhood abuse or exposure to domestic violence was not found to directly impact adult aggression, but it did influence attachment style. As predicted, women who were victimized or exposed to violence in childhood were less inclined to feel close in their intimate relationships and were fearful of rejection. It was also found that lesbian women who were securely attached experienced less aggression in their intimate relationships. Limitations, implications for therapists, and recommendations for future research are discussed.
","abstract_html":"<p>ABSTRACT</p> <p>There is an abundance of previous research proving that childhood abuse and adult domestic violence is an increasingly serious problem (Smith Slep, & O’Leary, 2005). However, while studies have shown that lesbian intimate battering occurs as frequently, if not more than, heterosexual domestic violence (Gosselin, <a>[ARF1]</a> 2003; Niolon, 2002), it remains understudied. Therefore, this study not only examines the relationship between childhood abuse and intimate lesbian violence but also secure and insecure attachment styles. Children who witness domestic violence or who are victims of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse are likely to repeat or engage in violent relationships later in life (O’Keefe, 1997; van der Kolk, 2009). Victimized children are also at a greater risk of developing unhealthy, insecure ways of relating (Siegel & Hartzell, 2003).</p> <p>Unexpectedly, childhood abuse or exposure to domestic violence was not found to directly impact adult aggression, but it did influence attachment style. As predicted, women who were victimized or exposed to violence in childhood were less inclined to feel close in their intimate relationships and were fearful of rejection. It was also found that lesbian women who were securely attached experienced less aggression in their intimate relationships. Limitations, implications for therapists, and recommendations for future research are discussed.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Beatty, Dawn M"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"PhD Family Psychology","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Professional Psychology and Family Therapy","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Ben Beitin, Ph.D.","Robert F. Massey, Ph.D.","Adriana Balaguer Dunn, Ph.D.","Pamela F. Foley, Ph.D.","Sharon Davis Massey, Ph.D."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2013,"date_issued":"2013-12-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2013-12-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:32:45Z","subjects":["childhood abuse","domestic violence","adult attachment style","lesbian relationships","Counseling Psychology","Psychology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarship.shu.edu/dissertations/1913","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Ben Beitin, Ph.D.","Robert F. Massey, Ph.D.","Adriana Balaguer Dunn, Ph.D.","Pamela F. Foley, Ph.D.","Sharon Davis Massey, Ph.D."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Beatty, Dawn M"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2013-11-26T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Professional Psychology and Family Therapy"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["PhD Family Psychology"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["childhood abuse","domestic violence","adult attachment style","lesbian relationships","Counseling Psychology","Psychology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholarship.shu.edu/dissertations/1913"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["ABSTRACT
There is an abundance of previous research proving that childhood abuse and adult domestic violence is an increasingly serious problem (Smith Slep, & O’Leary, 2005). However, while studies have shown that lesbian intimate battering occurs as frequently, if not more than, heterosexual domestic violence (Gosselin, [ARF1] 2003; Niolon, 2002), it remains understudied. Therefore, this study not only examines the relationship between childhood abuse and intimate lesbian violence but also secure and insecure attachment styles. Children who witness domestic violence or who are victims of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse are likely to repeat or engage in violent relationships later in life (O’Keefe, 1997; van der Kolk, 2009). Victimized children are also at a greater risk of developing unhealthy, insecure ways of relating (Siegel & Hartzell, 2003).
Unexpectedly, childhood abuse or exposure to domestic violence was not found to directly impact adult aggression, but it did influence attachment style. As predicted, women who were victimized or exposed to violence in childhood were less inclined to feel close in their intimate relationships and were fearful of rejection. It was also found that lesbian women who were securely attached experienced less aggression in their intimate relationships. Limitations, implications for therapists, and recommendations for future research are discussed.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Effects of Exposure to Abuse and Violence in Childhood on Adult Attachment and Domestic Violence in Women’s Same-Sex Relationships"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Ben Beitin, Ph.D.","Robert F. Massey, Ph.D.","Adriana Balaguer Dunn, Ph.D.","Pamela F. Foley, Ph.D.","Sharon Davis Massey, Ph.D."],"dc:creator":["Beatty, Dawn M"],"dc:date.available":["2013-11-26T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["ABSTRACT
There is an abundance of previous research proving that childhood abuse and adult domestic violence is an increasingly serious problem (Smith Slep, & O’Leary, 2005). However, while studies have shown that lesbian intimate battering occurs as frequently, if not more than, heterosexual domestic violence (Gosselin, [ARF1] 2003; Niolon, 2002), it remains understudied. Therefore, this study not only examines the relationship between childhood abuse and intimate lesbian violence but also secure and insecure attachment styles. Children who witness domestic violence or who are victims of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse are likely to repeat or engage in violent relationships later in life (O’Keefe, 1997; van der Kolk, 2009). Victimized children are also at a greater risk of developing unhealthy, insecure ways of relating (Siegel & Hartzell, 2003).
Unexpectedly, childhood abuse or exposure to domestic violence was not found to directly impact adult aggression, but it did influence attachment style. As predicted, women who were victimized or exposed to violence in childhood were less inclined to feel close in their intimate relationships and were fearful of rejection. It was also found that lesbian women who were securely attached experienced less aggression in their intimate relationships. Limitations, implications for therapists, and recommendations for future research are discussed.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://scholarship.shu.edu/dissertations/1913"],"dc:subject":["childhood abuse","domestic violence","adult attachment style","lesbian relationships","Counseling Psychology","Psychology"],"dc:title":["Effects of Exposure to Abuse and Violence in Childhood on Adult Attachment and Domestic Violence in Women’s Same-Sex Relationships"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Professional Psychology and Family Therapy"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["PhD Family Psychology"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:32:45Z"}