Unraveling the Links among Witnessing Interparental Conflict, Hopelessness, Psychological Dating Violence Victimization, and Adult Depressive Symptoms


Özkan H., Öztemür G., Toplu-Demirtaş E., Fincham F. D.

Journal of Interpersonal Violence, vol.38, no.23-24, pp.12161-12184, 2023 (SSCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 38 Issue: 23-24
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1177/08862605231191215
  • Journal Name: Journal of Interpersonal Violence
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Periodicals Index Online, Abstracts in Social Gerontology, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, CINAHL, Criminal Justice Abstracts, EBSCO Education Source, Education Abstracts, Gender Studies Database, MEDLINE, Psycinfo, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts, Violence & Abuse Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.12161-12184
  • Keywords: depression, hopelessness, interparental conflict, psychological dating violence victimization, sequential mediation
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Witnessing interparental conflict in childhood predicts psychological dating violence victimization (PDVV) in adulthood. As found in previous studies, PDVV and hopelessness are associated with depression. However, the associations among these four variables have not been explored in detail. The present study, therefore, examined the association between perceived interparental conflict and depression in adulthood and whether PDVV and hopelessness might operate as sequential mechanisms accounting for the association. Participants (N = 283; Mage = 23.37 years, SD = 4.04 years) in romantic relationships completed measures of perceived interparental conflict, PDVV, hopelessness, and depression. The perceived interparental conflict was related to PDVV and depression but not to hopelessness in adulthood. Moreover, the association between witnessing interparental conflict and depression was serially mediated via PDVV and hopelessness. The results are discussed in regard to previous research, and their implications for future research are presented.