Emotional dependence on the aggressor partner and its relationship to social anxiety, fear of negative evaluation and dysfunctional perfectionism

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to evaluate the relationship between emotional dependence and social anxiety, fear of negative evaluation and dysfunctional perfectionism, as well as its mediating role in the relationship between perfectionistic parental influences and physical violence received from the partner. A total of 258 people (77.1% female) aged 18-67 years (M= 32.63, SD= 11.66) participated. The findings suggested that emotional dependence was positively associated with intimate partner violence received, social anxiety, fear of negative evaluation, and dysfunctional perfectionism. In turn, intimate partner violence received was positively associated with dysfunctional perfectionism. Emotional dependence explained 16.55% of the relationship between perfectionist parental influences, referring to the perception of openly critical parental figures with high expectations, and the permanence in physically violent intimate partner relationships. In conclusion, the need to investigate and include these factors in psychological interventions aimed at treating both problems such as emotional dependence and permanence in violent relationships is mentioned.