The Moderating Effect of an Individual's Romantic Attachment Style on Intent to Leave a Heterosexual Clinical Couple Relationship in Which He or She is the Victim of Emotional Abuse

Abstract

This study examined the impact of emotional abuse on an individual's steps taken toward leaving a relationship and how individuals with different styles of attachment to a romantic partner differed with regard to taking such steps. Analyses of participant responses on the Multi-dimensional Emotional Abuse Scale (MDEAS), the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ), and the Marital Status Inventory-Revised (MSI-R) were conducted using analysis of variance. It was determined that abuse and being female were significantly associated with taking greater steps toward relationship dissolution. Finally, the interaction between abuse and attachment in steps taken toward leaving was significant among women, but not among men. Although attachment was associated with steps taken toward leaving an abusive relationship was significant for women, differences between attachment styles were not consistent with the hypotheses.