Table 2.

A Summary of Critical Findings and Implications.

Critical Findings
• In organizing the diverse array of harmful behaviors perpetrated in relationships, the paper introduces an integrative concept termed partner maltreatment. • Attachment anxiety is associated with partner maltreatment perpetration; however, at the meta-analytic level, this is a small to moderate effect (r = .19. CI [.15, .22], p < .001). • Likewise, attachment avoidance is associated with partner maltreatment perpetration, but the effect is small at a meta-analytic level (r = .14, CI [.10, .19], p < .001). • Stress significantly moderates the association of both insecure attachment orientations with partner maltreatment perpetration, such that when individuals with attachment anxiety or attachment avoidance experience stress, the propensity to maltreat is significantly exacerbated.
Implications for Practice, Policy, and Research
• Our findings support the application of an attachment theory framework to guide clinical approaches to assessment and intervention for couples experiencing partner maltreatment. • Our findings also provide empirical evidence for the importance of considering and addressing contextual factors, especially stress, for those individuals and couples seeking therapy for partner maltreatment. Helping individuals and couples to identify and understand the impact of stress on their behavior in their romantic relationship may introduce a tangible and readily modifiable point of intervention, which may significantly attenuate an individual’s propensity to maltreat their partner. • The construct of partner maltreatment affords researchers and policymakers a framework to derive a more comprehensive and integrative understanding of the many and varied forms of negative, destructive, and abusive behaviors that occur in close relationships.

Note. CI = confidence interval.