Violent relationships in engagement: an exploratory study

The goal of this study was to explore the kind of attitudes and behaviors considered as violent in an engagement relationship in a group of women living in Mexico City, as well as the frequency and modalities in which they take place. The sample consisted of 100 single women, 50 from 15 to 18 years of age, and 50 from 18 to 22. The questionnaire VIDOFyP (Violencia Doméstica: Frecuencia y Percepción; Mendoza & Trujano, 1998) was the instrument used to obtain data. We found low frequency levels and high perception levels in both samples, but there was more frequency and perception in younger women. The psychological, social and sexual modalities of violence took place with higher frequency, while the physical, objectal and sexual were better perceived. The correlation between frequency and perception was very low in the younger sample, indicating that, at least in this group, the discrimination was not enough to avoid violent attitudes and behaviors. We concluded that it is necessary to work in detection, prevention and eradication of violent behavior in early stages, recognizing multiple cultural factors involved (like myths and gender roles) in domestic violence.