Mistreatment by adults, time spent using digital media, depression/anxiety, and intimate partner violence: A multiple sample SEM analysis of indirect effects with covariates

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2016-05

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Abstract

Currently, there is scant research that specifically addresses how mistreatment in adolescence influences time spent using digital media later in life. Also, there is no research that addresses how time spent using digital media influences couple relationship quality. The purpose of this study was to investigate how mistreatment by adults during adolescence affects relationship quality during emerging adulthood. Participants included n = 7,817 participants from Wave III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) that indicated currently being in a committed relationship and were aged 18 to 26. Structural equation modeling was used to test a model of the associations between mistreatment by adults, time spent using digital media, intimate partner violence, and depression/anxiety. This study explored the indirect effect of mistreatment by adults on intimate partner violence (IPV) through digital media use. It explored the indirect effect of mistreatment by adults on IPV through depression/anxiety. Multiple-sample testing was used to test whether differences existed across digital media use status. Results of this study indicated a significant indirect effect from mistreatment by adults on IPV through mental health problems and a non-significant indirect effect from mistreatment in adolescence on IPV through digital media use. Multiple-sample testing indicated that differences did not exist across digital media use status. The findings from this study can be used to inform clinicians working with couples engaging in IPV.

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Keywords

Mistreatment, Digital media, IPV

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