The mediational role of relationship efficacy and resource utilization in the link between physical and psychological abuse and relationship termination

This study examines the roles of physical and emotional abuse and resource utilization, relationship efficacy, and childhood abuse on relationship status (together or separated) in a sample of 69 low-income, nonsheltered battered women. Separate path models were conducted for physical and psychological abuse. Increased physical abuse was related to separated status, increased resource utilization, and decreased efficacy. The effect of physical abuse on status was mediated by resource utilization and efficacy, whereas the effect of psychological abuse on status was partially mediated only by utilization. Increased childhood abuse was associated with together status. Baseline psychological but not physical abuse predicted a longer term separated status thereby suggesting that the effects of psychological abuse may be enduring.