Understanding Self-Esteem among Victims of Dating Violence in Emerging Adulthood

Abstract

Dating violence is a significant concern during emerging adulthood and can adversely affect psychological well-being, including self-esteem. The present study examined self-esteem among emerging adult victims of dating violence and investigated its relationship with psychological aggression, physical assault, and sexual coercion. The study also examined whether these dimensions significantly predicted self-esteem. Participants were emerging adults aged 18–26 years who had been involved in a heterosexual romantic relationship for at least two months. Data were collected using purposive sampling. Dating violence was assessed using the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2), and self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple linear regression were conducted. Findings indicated that minor psychological aggression was the most frequently experienced form of dating violence (M = 21.37, SD = 2.65), followed by minor physical assault (M = 13.00, SD = 9.05) and severe psychological aggression (M = 12.95, SD = 4.97). Self-esteem was significantly negatively correlated with minor psychological aggression, r = −.279, p < .05, but was not significantly associated with other dimensions of dating violence. Several dimensions of dating violence were significantly positively intercorrelated, indicating that different forms of victimization may co-occur. F (6, 51) = 1.464, p =.209, although the predictors collectively explained 14.7% of the variance in self-esteem (R² = .147). None of the individual dimensions significantly predicted self-esteem. The findings suggest that psychological aggression may be particularly relevant to self-esteem, while the relationship between dating violence and self-esteem is complex and may involve the co-occurrence of multiple forms of victimization.