The Relationship Between Maternal Psychological Control and Dating Violence Victimization in Emerging Adulthood: The Mediating Effects of Adult Attachment

This study examined the relationship between maternal psychological control and dating violence victimization among emerging adults and tested the mediating effects of two dimensions of insecure adult attachment: attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance. Data were collected from 279 adults who were currently involved in or had previously experienced a romantic relationship. Correlation analyses were conducted to examine associations among the study variables, and structural equation modeling was used to test the structural relationships among maternal psychological control, attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, and dating violence victimization, as well as the indirect effects of the two attachment dimensions. The results showed that maternal psychological control significantly and positively predicted both attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance and had a significant direct effect on dating violence victimization. However, neither attachment anxiety nor attachment avoidance significantly predicted dating violence victimization, and the indirect effects of maternal psychological control on dating violence victimization through either attachment dimension were not statistically significant. These findings suggest that perceived maternal psychological control may be associated with insecure attachment and dating violence victimization in emerging adulthood, but that the relationship between maternal psychological control and dating violence victimization cannot be fully explained by insecure adult attachment. The findings highlight the need for a more integrative approach that considers both intrapersonal and relational factors, along with early family relationship experiences, in understanding and preventing dating violence victimization.