The association between attachment representation and psychological dating violence among a sample of Lebanese young adults

Abstract

Violence, in its different forms, is a common phenomenon affecting people on social, psychological, and physical levels. Dating violence, which entails violence among young individuals within the context of non-marital relationships, is a growing concept being explored in research all over the world. In Lebanon, dating violence has not been explored in research before. Empirical research showed that adult attachment representations serve as predictors of dating violence among young adults. As such, this study aimed at investigating the association between psychological dating violence (perpetration and victimization) and attachment representations in a sample of young adults, along with exploring the variation of dating violence across demographic variables (age, gender, socioeconomic status, and relationship status). This study was conducted among 235 Lebanese young adults, aged between 18 and 29 years old. An online questionnaire was administered to participants which entailed an informed consent and sections on demographics, psychological dating violence perpetration and victimization (PDV-Q), and attachment representations (Ca-Mir). The results showed that psychological dating violence perpetration and victimization did not significantly vary across age and socioeconomic status; psychological dating violence victimization is more common among males than females; dating violence perpetration and victimization is more common among individuals who were in a previous dating relationship than in individuals who are in a current dating relationship. Results indicated that attachment representations did not predict psychological dating violence perpetration; however, insecure attachments slightly predicted psychological dating violence victimization. Exploringviolence in dating relationships has implications for prevention programs aimed at raising awareness about the seriousness of this form of violence and understanding the association between violence and attachment representations sheds light on the role of early attachment as a protective factor against interpersonal violence.