Navigating Cyber Intimate Partner Violence and Conflict: Negative Anticipation and Emotions During Text-Based Versus Face-to-Face Conflict Discussions in Young Adult Couples

Abstract

Young adult couples frequently use text messages to discuss conflicts within their relationship. While face-to-face conflicts have been shown to elicit more negative anticipation and negative emotions in victims of traditional, offline forms of intimate partner violence (IPV) (e.g., psychological and physical) compared with nonvictims, no study has examined how victims of cyber IPV (C-IPV) experience conflicts, either text-based or face-to-face. This study investigated, among young adult couples, the interplay between C-IPV and conflict modality (text-based vs. face-to-face) in association with negative anticipation and negative emotions during the discussion. A community sample of 102 young adult couples completed a self-reported questionnaire of C-IPV in the last six months and engaged in two conflictual interactions: one text-based and one face-to-face. Negative anticipation of the upcoming discussion was assessed prior to each interaction, and negative emotions were assessed immediately after. Results suggest that text-based conflicts were associated with higher negative anticipation in partners experiencing average or high levels of C-IPV. In turn, negative anticipation was linked with higher negative emotions. Findings highlight the importance of promoting healthy conflict management through technology-mediated communication, especially among young adult couples experiencing C-IPV.