Stay-or-Leave Decision Making in Nonviolent and Violent Dating Relationships

Data from the Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study were used to address how specific relationship dynamics, perceived alternatives, social support, and intimate partner violence (IPV) itself influenced breakups among respondents in nonviolent and violent dating relationships (n = 700). Both positive and negative relationship dynamics, perceived alternatives, and messages from significant others predicted whether individuals ended their relationships. In addition, these analyses indicated that violence was not associated with the odds of relationship termination. Among individuals reporting IPV (n = 245), similar factors influenced stay/leave decisions. Finally, the test for a threshold effect of IPV (n = 700) to determine whether higher levels of IPV experience “tipped the scales” and resulted in increased odds of relationship termination demonstrated that greater frequency of relationship violence was not associated with ending the relationship.