Abstract

The purpose of the present study was threefold. The first aim was to examine the continuity of aggressive and withdrawn behaviour among men and women who had been identified as showing elevated levels of these behaviours in childhood. The second aim was to investigate the occurrence of above chance levels of similarity between these individuals and their spouses on the behaviours of aggression and withdrawal. Finally the study examined whether relationship satisfaction varied as a function of couple similarity on aggression and withdrawal. The principal question of assortative mating was investigated within a longitudinal, community-based sample of men and women with histories of aggressive and/or withdrawn childhood behaviour. Using peer nominations, 1,770 boys and girls were originally identified at ages 7, 10, and 13 as being highly aggressive, withdrawn, both aggressive and withdrawn, or non-deviant (contrast group). At the time of the present study, the original participants were in their mid- to late 20's and many were involved in marital or co-habiting relationships. Of these original participants, 112 women and 99 men completed self-report measures of aggressive, deviant, and withdrawn behaviour, along with their partners. Couples also completed ratings of their satisfaction with the relationship. With respect to behavioural stability, results indicated a moderate degree of continuity in aggressive behaviour from childhood to early adulthood for our female participants, but less so for our male participants. In contrast, both genders showed a significant association between childhood social withdrawal and self-rated introverted behaviour in adulthood. Support was found for the hypothesis that partners in intimate relationships resemble each other in terms of their aggressive and deviant behaviour. Couples were not similar in shy, withdrawn behaviour, but did resemble one another in internalizing symptoms. Support was not found for the hypothesis that couple similarity on aggressive and withdrawn behaviour would be associated with relationship satisfaction.