Romantic Attachment, Interparental Conflicts and Psychopathologic Symptoms: The Contribution for Dating Conflicts in Young Adults

Abstract

Objective. This study aims to analyze to what extent the quality of the romantic attachment, the presence of psychopathological symptoms, and the inter-parental conflicts predict dating conflicts in young adults. Method. The sample comprised 505 individuals, 366 (72.5%) females, aged between 18 and 25 (M = 20.59; SD = 1.78). Results. The results indicate that interparental conflict, psychopathological symptomatology, and ambivalence in romantic attachment negatively predict non-abusive resolution strategies in dating. Abusive coping strategies and dating violence were positively predicted by psychopathological symptoms, inter-parental conflicts, and dating attachment ambivalence. These were also negatively predicted by interpersonal sensitivity and trust in the romantic attachment. Females were associated with non-abusive conflict resolution strategies, whereas males were associated with abusive conflict resolution strategies and violent behaviors.