Understanding the mechanisms underlying the association between insecure attachment and intimate partner violence (IPV): Meta-analyses using two meta-analytical methods and a systematic review of mediators

Abstract

Little is known about why insecure attachment is related to greater perpetration and victimization of intimate partner violence (IPV). Many studies have examined the underlying mechanisms, but no studies have integrated them. The present article aimed to systematically identify and quantify the magnitude of the mediators between anxious and avoidant attachment and IPV perpetration and victimization. We used two meta-analytic methods (two-stage structural equation modelling and multi-level meta-analyses) to accomplish this goal. After screening 5087 records, 63 eligible studies were identified. The mediators were reviewed using the framework of the I³ model. We meta-analyzed seven categories of mediators, including: 1) jealousy, anger, distrust, and perceived partner's infidelity, 2) dysfunctional beliefs, 3) maladaptive personality traits, 4) relationship dissatisfaction, 5) dominance and need for control, 6) destructive communication, and 7) emotion dysregulation. Results showed that interpersonal instigating (jealousy, anger, distrust, and perceived partner's infidelity), interpersonal impelling (relationship dissatisfaction, dominance and need for control, destructive communication), and personal disinhibiting (emotion dysregulation) factors significantly mediated the attachment-IPV relationships. The indirect effects of most instigating, impelling, and disinhibiting factors had small effect sizes, but interpersonal impelling factors such as dominance/need for control and relationship dissatisfaction had medium effect sizes in the anxiety-IPV and avoidance-IPV links respectively. Moreover, some mediators between avoidance and IPV were significant without having significant direct effects. An additional 26 mediators were presented in the Systematic Review section. The findings suggest IPV interventions should consider addressing attachment insecurity along with the relevant mediators, especially interpersonal impellance for avoidant attachment.