Unperceived dating violence among Mexican students

Abstract

The aim of this ex post facto study was to determine the level of self-perceived abuse and the feelings of fear and entrapment that exist among Mexican students in a dating relationship. We intended to explore possible differences in the prevalence of the various types of violence or victimization between individuals who perceive themselves as being abused and those who do not, combining such perceptions with the feelings of fear and entrapment. The sample was composed of 3,495 Mexican students, of which 1,927 were pre-university students (M = 20.16; SD = 2.13) and 1,568 were university students (M = 15.99; SD = 1.64). We applied a questionnaire on socio-demographic data and the Cuestionario de Violencia entre Novios (CUVINO, Dating Violence Questionnaire). Results showed that 88% of participants did not feel abused by their boyfriend or girlfriend; yet, 15.2% reported having been afraid and 27% reported having felt trapped in the relationship at some point. The data revealed that a considerable majority of youth in the sample had been victims of unperceived abuse. More specifically, they presented evidence of having experienced abuse in their dating relationship even when they described themselves as not being abused.

Resumen

El presente estudio, ex post facto de tipo prospectivo, tiene como objetivo establecer la autopercepción de maltrato, así como los sentimientos de miedo y atrapado que existen entre los miembros de una relación de pareja, y determinar si hay diferencias en la prevalencia de los diferentes tipos de violencia o victimización entre los que se perciben maltratados y los que no, teniendo en cuenta las combinaciones con la sensación de miedo y atrapamiento. Participaron 3.495 estudiantes mexicanos de los cuales 1.927 son preuniversitarios (edad media = 20,16; DT = 2,13) y 1.568 universitarios (edad media = 15,99; DT = 1,64). Se aplicaron un cuestionario de datos sociodemográficos y el Cuestionario de Violencia de Novios (CUVINO). El 88% de los participantes no se percibe como maltratado por su pareja, pero el 15,2% ha sentido miedo y el 27% asevera haberse sentido en algún momento atrapado en la relación. Los datos ponen de manifiesto que una importante mayoría de jóvenes del estudio presenta maltrato técnico, ya que aun cuando se autoperciben como no maltratados presentan la evidencia de haber vivido abuso en su relación de noviazgo.