Volume 25, Issue 2
Association Between Attachment Styles and Physical Violence in Dating Relationships Among University Students
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the association between attachment styles and physical violence experienced among university students in a romantic relationship context. With this objective, two groups composed of 372 students each (N = 744) were compared. They were divided according to the presence or absence of physical aggression encounters during the last year. We used the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR, Brennan, Clark & Shaver, 1998) scale to assess Attachment Styles and the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS-2, Straus 1996) to measure physical violence. The results show a significant association between the two variables. The Preoccupied Attachment Style was predominant in the group who experienced violence and the Secure Attachment Style for those who had not.
Keywords
attachment style, romantic relationships, physical violence, university students