Do Communication Patterns Predict the Psychological Abuse in Young Adults Romantic Relationships?

The aim of the study was to investigate the link between different communication patterns and psychological abuse among young adults romantic relationships. Specifically, the research was aimed at analyzing the direct relation between efficacious, avoidant, dismissive and manipulative communicative patterns and both reported victimized and perpetrated behaviors of psychological abuse within the couple. Participants were 557 young adults (211 males), aged between 18-30 years (M = 22.61; SD = 3.85), currently involved in a heterosexual romantic relationship of at least 6 months duration. Results showed that the most important predictors of perpetration and victimization reports of psychological abuse are the Dismissal and Manipulation communication patterns, whereas Avoidance is not a significant predictor of psychological abuse. Theoretical and social implications and directions for future research are identified.