Relationship between childhood trauma and emotional abuse in intimate relationships: The mediating role of experiential avoidance

This thesis investigated the mediating role of experiential avoidance in the relationship between childhood trauma and emotional abuse within intimate relationships among Turkish university students. Stratified random sampling with gatekeeper approach, was used to gather data from 348 university students with a mean age of 22.66 (SD=3.87). The study employed mediation, regression, and correlation analyses to explore the relationships between the key variables. Findings revealed that experiential avoidance partially mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and perpetration of emotional abuse in intimate partnerships. However, experiential avoidance did not mediate the relationship concerning emotional abuse victimization. Furthermore, the study confirmed a strong link between childhood trauma and both emotional abuse perpetration and victimization in intimate relationships. This research highlights the significance of childhood traumatic experiences in predisposing individuals to later abusive behaviors and that experiential avoidance has a role in this dynamic. The need for further research to break this cycle of abuse is emphasized.