Niveles de maltrato en el noviazgo en estudiantes de la Facultad de Artes de la Universidad de Cuenca del periodo 2024-2025

Abstract

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) defines maltreatment as the deliberate use of physical force or power, whether real or implied, against oneself or others, with the potential to cause psychological harm, injury, or negatively affect development. This issue is also present in dating relationships and generates significant consequences for those who experience it. The general objective of this research was to describe the presence, type, and level of dating violence among students of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Cuenca during the 2024–2025 academic period. The specific objectives were: (1) to determine the predominant type of dating violence and (2) to identify the levels of violence according to sociodemographic variables such as sex, age, academic cycle, and sexual orientation. The study followed a quantitative approach with a non-experimental, cross-sectional, and descriptive design. The sample consisted of 268 students selected through non-probability convenience sampling. El Cuestionario de Maltrato en el Noviazgo (CMN), translated as the Dating Violence Questionnaire, was administered as a validated instrument to assess different dimensions of violence within dating relationships. The results showed low levels of violence across all evaluated dimensions (psychological, physical, economic, sexual, and sociocultural), with psychological violence being the predominant type. Physical, economic, and sexual violence were mainly concentrated in the “no violence” category, while sociocultural influence presented low levels across all sociodemographic groups. These findings contribute to the understanding of dating violence in university contexts.