Rejection sensitivity and self-silencing as predictors of violence in romantic relationships

The purpose of this study is to examine whether rejection sensitivity and self-silencing behaviors of university students who were experienced/experience romantic relationships predict dating violence attitudes. Correlational Survey Model was used in this research. The study group of the research consists of 307 university students studying in different faculties at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University in the 2022-2023 academic year. Within the scope of this research, "Intimate Partner Violence Attitude Scale-Revised (IPVAS-R)", "Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ)" and "Self-Silencing Scale (STSS)" were used to collect data. After the data collection process was completed, data was entered into the IBM SPSS 22.0 program (Statistical Package for the Social Science). Independent Sample t-test, One-Way ANOVA, Pearson Correlation and Linear Hierarchical Multiple Regression Analysis were used to analyze the data. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that the mean scores of the control and abuse subscale of IPVAS-R and the total score of the scale differed in favor of men (p <.05). It was confirmed that the total score of the scale taken from the IPVAS-R Violence, Control and Abuse subscales differed significantly according to age and parental attitudes (p <.05). Also, it was established that the rejection sensitivity of young adults was a significant predictor of the scores obtained from the IPVAS-R Violence, Control and Abuse subscale, and the model explained 12% of the observed variance. It was determined that young adults' rejection sensitivities and self-sacrifice and self-silencing sub-dimensions of self-silencing were significant predictors of the scores obtained from the Control sub-dimension of the IPVAS-R, and the model explained 27% of the observed variance. Participants' rejection sensitivity and divided self were found to be significant predictors of the scores obtained from the Abuse subscale of the IPVAS-R, and the model explained 25% of the observed variance. The results were discussed within the framework of the literature and suggestions were made for future research. Key Words : Dating violence, rejection sensitivity, romantic relationship, self silencing, the period of young adulthood.