A Comparison of Three Groups of Undergraduate College Males--Physically Abusive, Psychologically Abusive, and Non-Abusive: a Quantitative Analysis

This study compares three groups of undergraduate college males in heterosexual dating relationships: those who are physically and psychologically abusive (n=39), those who are solely psychologically abusive (n=44), and those who are non-abusive (n=34). These three groups are compared along the following variables: self-reported history of experiencing family of origin violence; self-reported history of witnessing family of origin violence; level of self-reported impulsivity; level of self-reported satisfaction with life; level of self-reported alcohol use; level of self-reported relationship satisfaction; and amount of self-reported anger management skill. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant main effects among the three groups of males along several of the variables examined (Wilks' Lambda F = 4.80, df = 10, 220, p <.001). Post hoc tests revealed significant differences among the three groups of males. This study revealed that these three groups differ significantly along their levels of alcohol use (F = 10.16, p <.001), their reported levels of relationship satisfaction (F = 4.23, p <.05), and their levels of anger management skills (F = 14.56, p<.001). This information can be helpful to clinicians and educators who are working with college populations. It would seem that psychoeducation might be useful for some of these men so that they might develop alternatives to violence, and may hopefully decrease the risk factors associated with the perpetration of relationship violence. Intervening early and effectively with these dating relationships can be a substantive step towards preventing the escalation and maintenance of violence in relationships.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Human Development

Department dc:contributor.department

Human Development

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1999

Author dc:creator

• Lundeberg, Kirsten Marie

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Stith, Sandra M.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Rosen, Karen H.
• McCollum, Eric E.

• Dating
• Emotional Abuse
• Psychological Abuse
• ANOVA
• Family of Origin
• Impulsivity
• Correlations
• Physical Abuse
• MANOVA
• Relationship Satisfaction
• Alcohol Use
• Anger Management Skills
• Satisfaction with Life
• Violence

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-092299-211143

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/35155