Remaining in an Abusive Relationship: An Investment Model Analysis of Nonvoluntary Dependence

Abstract

Rusbult's investment model is used to understand the conditions under which individuals are likely to remain in abusive relationships. Analyses of data from intake interviews at a shelter for battered women provided good support for model predictions. Consistent with hypotheses, feelings of commitment were greater among women who had poorer-quality economic alternatives, were more heavily invested in their relationships (e.g., were married), and experienced lesser dissatisfaction (e.g., reported less severe abuse). Also consistent with hypotheses, commitment was strongly linked to stay/leave behavior, significantly distinguishing between women who returned to their partners immediately on leaving the shelter and women who did not. Causal modeling analyses suggested that commitment may mediate the effects of alternatives, investments, and satisfaction on stay/leave decisions. Implications for our knowledge of nonvoluntary dependence, as well as for social policy regarding family violence, are discussed.