Jealousy and intimate partner violence in students of the University of Cuenca, Ecuador

Abstract

This research work evaluates violence in couples of university students and focuses on their relationship with jealousy and other variables. Using a cross-sectional design, 186 students from the University of Cuenca, Ecuador, were surveyed. Instruments used were Conflict in Adolescents Dating Relationships Inventory, Multidimensional Jealousy Scale, and other ad hoc methods related to fidelity, substance use, and stress during dating relationship. Violence scores observed were low in general though disturbing in 5.4% of students surveyed. Noticeably, 60.2% of them reported to have committed at least one physical violent act during their index dating relationship. Violence subtypes measured showed similar distribution between men and women. Correlation between total violence committed and suffered was .77 (p< .001). A significant association was observed between the highest violence group and behavioral jealousy and stress during dating relationship.