Low Self-Control and Abuse in Steady Heterosexual Partnerships

2004 
Numerous studies have shown that Gottfredson and Hirschi's concept of self-control predicts such problem behaviors as crime, delinquency, drunk driving and substance use. This paper extends this range of problem behaviors to include partner abuse, an interpersonal behavior with significant potential for harm to men and their romantic partners. In a sample of 367 randomly selected heterosexual men who were in steady relationships, low self-control was associated with greater partner abuse. This effect was above and beyond that of the other statistically significant predictors (younger age, greater psychological distress, more traditional gender roles, longer relationship length, and lower relationship satisfaction). As a construct, self-control has unique utility in the study of relationship violence. Future research should examine its role in other health-threatening dyadic behaviors, such as sexual risk-taking.
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