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Poster #234 - The Long-Term Effects of Early Verbal Abuse on Adult Romantic Relationships

Fri, March 22, 2:30 to 3:45pm, Baltimore Convention Center, Floor: Level 1, Exhibit Hall B

Integrative Statement

Attachment theory researchers discuss how the level of security individuals feel in their romantic relationships is a direct reflection of the security they received from their primary caregiver in childhood (see Feeney & Noller, 1990). When youth experience emotional abuse in their relationships with their primary caregivers attachment security is negatively impacted. Experiencing emotional abuse during childhood is associated with later psychological concerns, including negative self-worth and increased levels of anxiety and depression (Dias et al., 2014; Harvey et al., 2012). Such increases in anxiety create difficulties in interpersonal functioning and levels of intimacy in romantic relationships (Porter & Chambless, 2014). Conversely, successful romantic relationships have been linked to lower levels of psychological distress and improvements in happiness and well-being (Pielage, 2005).
The present longitudinal study seeks to examine the associations between experiences of verbal abuse in early adolescence, individual factors (i.e., self-worth, social anxiety, attachment security), and romantic relationship outcomes (i.e., relationship satisfaction and conflict) in adulthood. We hypothesize that early experiences of abuse predict negative relationship outcomes by way of how abuse negatively impacts individual-level factors. A community sample of 184 teenagers (54% female; 58% White) was assessed over a 4-year period. We measured verbal abuse at age 15 using the verbal abuse/attacks of self worth subscale of the Psychological Maltreatment Experience scale. At ages 17, 18, and 19 we measured romantic relationship outcomes using the relationship satisfaction and relationship conflict subscales of the Network of Relationships Inventory. Finally, we measured two individual-level factors (i.e., self-worth, social anxiety) at age 19, and attachment security was measured at age 16. We used linear regression analyses to test whether levels of verbal abuse were associated with romantic relationship outcomes, and if such associations were mediated by the individual factors of interest.
As expected, we found that verbal abuse experienced in early adolescence was a significant predictor of romantic relationship satisfaction (β= -.35, p<.01) and conflict in romantic relationships in adulthood (β= .30, p<.01). Our results indicate that higher reports of verbal abuse are associated with decreases in relationship satisfaction and increases in relationship conflict. We also found that individuals’ reported self-worth (β= -.35, p<.01), attachment security (β= -.39, p<.001), and social anxiety (β= .29, p<.05) were all significantly associated with relationship conflict. Additionally, individuals’ reported self-worth (β= .23, p<.05) and attachment security (β= .26, p<.05) were significantly associated with relationship satisfaction. Finally, we found that both attachment security and social anxiety mediated the relationship between verbal abuse and relationship conflict. Attachment security also mediated the relationship between verbal abuse and relationship satisfaction.
The results of this study reveal that experiences of abuse are associated with diminished attachment security and increased social anxiety, which then predict increased conflict and decreased satisfaction in romantic relationships. These findings align with previous research showing that the distinct attachment styles are associated with differences in conflict resolution and relationship satisfaction in adults’ romantic relationships (see Pistole, 1989). Implications of the findings will be discussed.

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