Development and initial psychometric validation of the Women's Partner-Directed Insults Scale

Verbal conflict is an unfortunate feature of some intimate relationships, and can have serious consequences for relationship members. Some previous research has investigated the content and correlates of men's partner-directed insults. No previous research has investigated the content or correlates of women's partner-directed insults, despite the fact that women also abuse their partners physically and non-physically. Here, we present the development and validation of a measure of women's partner-directed insults. In Study 1, we identified Women's Partner-Directed Insults Scale (WPDIS) items using men's nominations of insults directed at them by their female intimate partner. In Study 2, we developed a final version of the WPDIS, and provided evidence for the discriminant validity of the WPDIS. Discussion highlights limitations and future directions for research investigating women's partner-directed insults.