Is jealousy a mediator between experiences in the family of origin and physical violence in conjugality?

Abstract Conjugal violence is a multidetermined phenomenon, which is impacted by early and present experiences. The objective of this study was to test a theoretical model in which jealousy mediates between experiences in the family of origin and physical domestic violence. This was a quantitative, transversal, and explanatory study, which counted on a sample of 600 people, aged from 18 to 65 years, from 13 Brazilian states. The instruments included a sociodemographic questionnaire, the FBQ, the CTS2, and the RJI, all collected electronically. Structural equation modeling was used to test the empirical validity of the theoretical model. The results indicated that jealousy partially mediates the experiences in the family of origin and the occurrence of conjugal violence. The data point to the need for attention to jealousy in love relationships, as a way of acting in the prevention of situations of conjugal violence.