On process in aggressive relationships more qualitatively to better understand how specific constraints or barriers might influence separation decisions as well as the potential distress associated with a break-up. One particularly important constraint to consider in future work may be cohabitation. Our findings indicated that those who were living together were more likely to have experienced physical aggression (58.8 ) than those who were dating and not living together (43.4 ). Among those who had experienced aggression in the last year, living together was also a strong predictor of remaining in the relationship over time. Although few studies have compared the rates of aggression between cohabiting and dating relationships, those that have also indicate a higher prevalence of physical aggression in cohabiting relationships (Brown Bulanda, 2008; Kline et al., 2004; Magdol, Moffitt, Caspi, 1998). Additionally, the literature indicates that cohabiting couples experience more aggression than married couples (Brown Bulanda, 2008; Stanley, Whitton Markman, 2004) and that this difference is at least partially NSC309132 web accounted for by social isolation (Stets, 1991). Similar processes may explain the higher prevalence of aggression in cohabiting relationships as compared to dating relationships in the current study. It may be that cohabitation represents a relationship type or stage in which partners have relatively less social support and more social isolation, making violence more likely to occur and also less likely to be recognized by friends, family members, or professionals who would otherwise intervene in the relationship. Cohabiting couples also tend to have been dating longer and thus they have had more time to experience aggression. Additionally, they likely have more day-to-day contact with each other than dating couples and therefore more opportunities for physical aggression to occur (Magdol et al., 1998). Cohabiting relationships tend to be more constraining than dating relationships (Rhoades et al., 2010), which may also make them more difficult to end even if aggression occurs. Unfortunately, there is evidence that the higher rates of aggression among cohabiting couples continues into marriage, as premarital cohabitation is a risk factor for experiencing physical aggression in marriage, as well (Stanley et al., 2004). Limitations and Future Directions This study had several strengths, particularly with regard to the generalizability of the sample and in terms of the in-depth measurement of commitment, but there were also limitations that should be considered. First, because of the nature of our research questions, we defined a history of physical aggression in a dichotomous way; future work could expand the measurement of physical aggression to examine severity or types of violence more comprehensively. Others have detailed that different forms and severities of family violence should be considered separately (e.g., Emery GGTI298 structure Laumann-Billings, 1998; Johnson Ferraro, 2000; Kitzmann, Gaylord, Holt, Kenny, 2003). In our sample, the majority of individuals appear to have experienced relatively infrequent aggression that did not causeJ Fam Psychol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2011 December 1.NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author ManuscriptRhoades et al.Pageinjury, thus our findings may not generalize to couples who experience the most severe kinds of relationship violence. Second, some of the pe.On process in aggressive relationships more qualitatively to better understand how specific constraints or barriers might influence separation decisions as well as the potential distress associated with a break-up. One particularly important constraint to consider in future work may be cohabitation. Our findings indicated that those who were living together were more likely to have experienced physical aggression (58.8 ) than those who were dating and not living together (43.4 ). Among those who had experienced aggression in the last year, living together was also a strong predictor of remaining in the relationship over time. Although few studies have compared the rates of aggression between cohabiting and dating relationships, those that have also indicate a higher prevalence of physical aggression in cohabiting relationships (Brown Bulanda, 2008; Kline et al., 2004; Magdol, Moffitt, Caspi, 1998). Additionally, the literature indicates that cohabiting couples experience more aggression than married couples (Brown Bulanda, 2008; Stanley, Whitton Markman, 2004) and that this difference is at least partially accounted for by social isolation (Stets, 1991). Similar processes may explain the higher prevalence of aggression in cohabiting relationships as compared to dating relationships in the current study. It may be that cohabitation represents a relationship type or stage in which partners have relatively less social support and more social isolation, making violence more likely to occur and also less likely to be recognized by friends, family members, or professionals who would otherwise intervene in the relationship. Cohabiting couples also tend to have been dating longer and thus they have had more time to experience aggression. Additionally, they likely have more day-to-day contact with each other than dating couples and therefore more opportunities for physical aggression to occur (Magdol et al., 1998). Cohabiting relationships tend to be more constraining than dating relationships (Rhoades et al., 2010), which may also make them more difficult to end even if aggression occurs. Unfortunately, there is evidence that the higher rates of aggression among cohabiting couples continues into marriage, as premarital cohabitation is a risk factor for experiencing physical aggression in marriage, as well (Stanley et al., 2004). Limitations and Future Directions This study had several strengths, particularly with regard to the generalizability of the sample and in terms of the in-depth measurement of commitment, but there were also limitations that should be considered. First, because of the nature of our research questions, we defined a history of physical aggression in a dichotomous way; future work could expand the measurement of physical aggression to examine severity or types of violence more comprehensively. Others have detailed that different forms and severities of family violence should be considered separately (e.g., Emery Laumann-Billings, 1998; Johnson Ferraro, 2000; Kitzmann, Gaylord, Holt, Kenny, 2003). In our sample, the majority of individuals appear to have experienced relatively infrequent aggression that did not causeJ Fam Psychol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2011 December 1.NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author ManuscriptRhoades et al.Pageinjury, thus our findings may not generalize to couples who experience the most severe kinds of relationship violence. Second, some of the pe.
