The Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation and Thought Control Strategies in the Connection between Attachment Styles and Domestic Violence in Couples

The present study aims to investigate the role of cognitive emotion regulation and thought control strategies in the connection between attachment styles and domestic violence in couples in Arak. The population consists of married students in public and Azad universities in 2014-2015 academic years. The sample size of 361 people was estimated using Krejcie and Morgan sampling table. To have a representative sample and to prevent possible loss of participants, the sample of 380 people is selected using multistage cluster sampling method. The study is correlational. Three tools including Garnefski et al. (2001) cognitive emotion regulation, Collins & Read’s Attachment Questionnaire (1990) and domestic violence questionnaire have been used in the present study. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and Pearson's correlation coefficient method. The results showed that cognitive emotion regulation strategies and thought control strategies significantly affected the connection between attachment styles and domestic violence in student couples which led to the confirmation of the research hypothesis. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n4S1p128