Factors Mediating and Moderating the Relationship between Abuse and Commitment

Abstract

This study explored the effect of intimate partner violence on relationship commitment. The investment model was used to test mediators and moderators between abuse and commitment in a community sample of women. Analyses showed that relationship satisfaction mediated this relationship for physical and psychological abuse, but revealed no significant effect of implicit relationship beliefs. Results could help clinicians understand more deeply the experiences of victims and why they might remain committed to an abusive partner.

KEYWORDS:

• family/domestic violence
• intimate partner violence
• trauma
• victim