Examining the relationship between university students' attitudes towards love and dating violence

Dating is an important concept for identity development in young adulthood. In addition, healthy dating relationships affect the increase of self-confidence and positive social relationships of young adults. However, violence in dating relationships can cause serious psychological and social problems in teenagers. For this reason, it is very important to protect young people from violent dating relationships. Consequently, it is very important to research the reasons affecting dating violence. The aim of this study is to examine the correlation between university students' attitudes toward love and dating violence. The universe of the research consists of bachelor students of a university in Ankara. 300 students were included in the study by purposeful sampling method. Attitudes Towards Dating Violence Scales and Love Attitudes Scales were used in the study. T-test, ANOVA, and Pearson Correlation analysis were used to analyze the research data. In general, there is a negative correlation between the "passionate love" attitude and physical dating violence used by males and psychological and physical dating violence used by females. There is a positive correlation between the "game-playing love" attitude and psychological and physical dating violence used by females and males. There is a negative correlation between the "friendship love" attitude and physical dating violence used by males and psychologic. Finally, there is a positive correlation between the "altruistic love" attitude and psychological dating violence used by males psychologica and physical dating violence used by females. Dating violence can cause significant psychological and social problems during young adulthood. Therefore individuals should be taught from childhood that love is a non-violent emotion. In addition, society and the media should be more sensitive about this issue.