Autonomic reactivity and romantic relational aggression among female emerging adults: Moderating roles of social and cognitive risk

This study investigates the association between autonomic arousal in response to a relational stressor and the perpetration of relational aggression against romantic partners. In addition, the moderating role of social risk (relational victimization by a romantic partner) and cognitive risk (hostile attribution biases) was explored. Skin conductance, heart rate, and respiratory sinus arrhythmia during an experience of exclusion were assessed in a sample of female emerging adults (N = 131). Participants provided self-reports of romantic relational aggression, romantic relational victimization, and hostile attribution biases. Results indicated that both heightened and blunted reactivity served as risk factors for the perpetration of romantic relational aggression depending on women's social and contextual risks. Implications for understanding the development of intimate aggression are discussed.

Research Highlights
► Autonomic reactivity was associated with women's romantic relational aggression.
► Moderating roles of social and cognitive risk were examined.
► Heightened reactivity predicted aggression among women who were at high risk.
► Blunted reactivity predicted aggression among women with low cognitive risk.