Dating violence and childhood traumatic experience: The mediating role of sensitive rejection, irrational beliefs

In this study, the mediating role of rejection sensitivity and irrational beliefs in the relationship between young adults' childhood traumatic experiences and their attitudes towards dating violence were examined. 960 university students studying at different faculties at Mehmet Akif Ersoy University and Gaziantep University participated in the research. Personal Information Form, Dating Violence Scale, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Rejection Sensitivity Scale (RSS) and Relationship Belief Inventory (RBI) were used in the study.. Structural equation model, t test and ANOVA test were used to analyze the data. As a result of the analyzes, it was determined that there is a negative relationship between childhood traumatic experiences, rejection sensitivity and irrational beliefs and attitudes towards dating violence. The decrease in the average score taken from the scale for the attitude towards dating violence means that violence in dating is accepted. In other words, as childhood traumatic experiences, rejection sensitivity and irrational beliefs increase, the level of acceptance of dating violence also increases. For the structural equation model, the measurement model was tested in the first stage, and then the structural model was tested. According to the results obtained, it was determined that rejection sensitivity and irrational beliefs had a mediating role in the relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and attitudes towards dating violence. It was determined that the model explained 29% of the total variance of attitudes towards dating violence. In addition, in the study, the differentiation status of the attitude towards dating violence according to demographic variables was investigated. According to the results obtained, it was determined that the attitude towards dating violence differed according to gender and substance use status, this difference was in favor of men and smokers, but did not differ according to age and duration of relationship. All the findings were discussed in line with the relevant literature and some suggestions were presented regarding these findings.