Investigation of the relationship between early maladaptive schemas, adult attachment styles and close partner violence in university students: The case of Niğde

This study aimed to examine the relationships between early maladaptive schemas, adult attachment styles and intimate partner violence in university students. The research group consists of 305 students studying at Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University. In the study, data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Young Schema Scale Short Form-3, Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory-II (YIYE-II) and Partner Abuse Scale (PAS). Relational screening model was used in this study. Simple linear and hierarchical regression analyzes and Model 4 add-ons of the SPSS PROCESS macro were used to analyze the data. According to the results of the research, it was found that all of the early maladaptive schema domains of separation and rejection, impaired autonomy and performance, damaged boundaries, directedness towards others, and hypervigilance and suppression were statistically significant positive predictors of intimate partner violence, anxious attachment, and avoidant attachment. Additionally, anxious attachment was found to be a statistically significant positive predictor of intimate partner violence. It was concluded that anxious attachment had a mediating role in the relationship between separation and rejection, impaired autonomy and performance, damaged boundaries, orientation towards others, and hypervigilance and repression, and intimate partner violence. Keywords: Early maladaptive schemas, Adult attachment styles, Intimate partner violence, University students