Intimate partner aggression and adult attachment insecurity: The mediation of jealousy and anger

Research has focused on the role of jealousy and anger in intimate partner aggression, though little attention has been given to whether these variables might mediate the relationship between intimate partner aggression and adult attachment insecurity (i.e., anxious, avoidant). It is important for researchers to focus on jealousy and anger because these variables are linked to perpetrating intimate partner aggression. Adult attachment insecurity might have a role in these associations. The research focused on this topic has examined broad forms of intimate partner aggression without consideration for the effects of new technology on young adults' romantic relationships. To this end, the present study examined the mediation of jealousy and anger on the relationship between intimate partner aggression and adult attachment insecurities among 600 young adult's (M_age = 20.68; 54% female). Intimate partner aggression included the following forms: relational, privacy invasion, cyber, and cyber/technology privacy invasion. Jealousy mediated the association between avoidant anxious partner attachment and relational intimate partner aggression. Similar patterns were found for anger, privacy invasion, and cyber/technology privacy invasion. Recommendations for programs aimed at raising awareness of intimate partner aggression among young adults are described.