A qualitative exploration of UK students’ awareness and perceptions of cyber dating  abuse

Cyber dating abuse is a form of intimate partner violence involving the use of digital technologies to monitor, harass, or control a romantic partner. Although awareness of cyber dating abuse has increased, less is known about how young adults in the United Kingdom (UK) perceive and make sense of these behaviours within romantic relationships. The present study explored UK university students’ perceptions and understandings of cyber dating abuse. Semi structured interviews were conducted with eight students aged 18 to 25, and data were analysed using thematic analysis. Five superordinate themes were identified: awareness of cyber dating abuse, the facilitating role of technology and the online world, perceived risk factors for victimisation and perpetration, the perceived impact of cyber dating abuse, and increasing awareness, prevention, and support. Participants described behaviours such as monitoring, coercion, and online humiliation but often struggled to define cyber dating abuse explicitly, frequently comparing it to offline forms of abuse. Technology was perceived as both enabling connection and intensifying harm, particularly due to its accessibility and availability. Participants also identified relational insecurity and individual differences as factors which they believed contributed to abusive dynamics and highlighted the emotional and psychological impact of cyber dating abuse on victims. These findings provide preliminary qualitative insight into how cyber dating abuse is understood by young adults within a specific student context in the UK. The study highlights ambiguity in recognition and the central role of digital environments in shaping perceptions of abuse, highlighting the need for further research examining cyber dating abuse within broader social, relational, and cultural frameworks.

Citation

Mattu, H., Bhogal, M.S., Guy, A., Galbraith, N. (in press) A qualitative exploration of UK students’ awareness and perceptions of cyber dating abuse.

Type

Journal article

Language

en

Description

This is an author's accepted manuscript of an article published by Springer Publishing Company on [date TBC], available online: [link TBC]. The accepted manuscript may differ from the final published version.

ISSN

1946-6560

EISSN

1946-6579

Collections

Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing