Perceived Nature and Characteristics of Dating Violence among Young Adults in Bengaluru

Dating violence in India has been under researched. It has serious consequences that must be addressed and prevented. Understanding the perception of young adults towards dating violence, its characteristics and nature can guide measures to prevent it. A survey was administered to 344 young adults of Bengaluru to understand how they perceive dating violence, its types, prevalence, influence of media and gender, help-seeking behaviors, and skills required to avoid or walk out of abusive dating relationships. The results showed that young adults acknowledged the presence of dating violence, but they did not show complete understanding of what constitutes it, its various types, and ways to seek help. The perceived prevalence of different types of dating abuse was in the order of emotional abuse, verbal abuse, economic abuse, social abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, technological abuse, and cultural/spiritual abuse. Results also revealed that young adults were more likely to seek informal than professional help for dating abuse. The participants outlined their views on the influence of gender and media on dating violence, characteristics of various forms of dating violence and the skills that could be cultivated to prevent and walk out of abusive dating relationships. These findings guide future researches to create adequate evidence-based and tailor made- awareness, prevention and intervention programs for young adults, families and schools to prevent dating violence and its dire consequences.