Is the End Really the End? Prevalence and Correlates of College Women's Intentions to Return to an Abusive Relationship.

Fifty-six college women completed surveys before and after terminating an abusive, heterosexual dating relationship. Whereas 64% of women had contact with their abusive partner post break-up, only 14% reported a moderate to high likelihood that they would return. Intentions to return were prospectively predicted by fewer perceived quality of alternatives, and cross-sectional correlates of intentions to return were being single, shorter time since relationship termination, having contact with one's abusive ex-partner, and social pressure to return. These data can be used to inform intervention and advocacy efforts and to guide future research.