Perceived abuse in romantic relationships: With respect to schemas, gender roles, forgiveness and differentiation of self

The aim of this study is to investigate how early maladaptive schemas, attitudes towards gender roles, forgiveness, and self-differentiation relate to perceived experiences of abuse in romantic relationships among university students. Results showed that the level of perceived abuse in romantic relationships varied statistically depending on gender, father's education level, place of spending most of life and alcohol/substance use. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to determine how demographic variables and independent variables predicted the level of perceived abuse in romantic relationships. The results showed that relationship duration, alcohol/substance use, disconnection schema domain, other-directedness schema domain, and positive orientation sub-dimension positively predicted the level of perceived abuse, while gender (being female), forgiveness sub-dimension, and male gender role sub-dimension negatively predicted it. Together, all independent variables accounted for 24% of the variance in the level of perceived abuse in romantic relationships. Additionally, path analysis was conducted to determine how independent variables predicted the level of perceived abuse in romantic relationships without demographic variables. Results showed that other-directedness schema domain, disconnection schema domain, positive orientation sub-dimension, and female gender role sub-dimension positively predicted the level of perceived abuse. Together, all independent variables accounted for 21% of the variance in the level of perceived abuse in romantic relationships.