Unmasking the Relationship Between Cyber Dating Abuse and Fear of Intimacy: Insights From a Cross-Sectional Study of Undergraduate Students

Abstract

The increasing digitalization of the world has led to a rise in cyber dating abuse among undergraduate students, who are transitioning into young adulthood and will be part of the future workforce. Additionally, identifying the less-studied issue of fear of intimacy in this context is crucial. This study aims to examine the relationship between cyber dating abuse and fear of intimacy among undergraduates. Conducted as a cross-sectional study, it involved undergraduate students from all university faculties using proportional stratified sampling with an online survey (n = 416). Data were collected via a Personal Information Form, Cyber Dating Abuse Scale, and Fear of Intimacy Scale. Analyses included Pearson correlation, t-tests, ANOVA, and post hoc (Tukey, LSD) tests, and multiple regression analyses. A significant relationship was found between students' levels of cyber dating abuse and fear of intimacy (p < .001), indicating that as cyber dating abuse increases, so does fear of intimacy. Factors such as gender, faculty, smoking, romantic relationship status, and duration of relationship were found to influence these levels. Male students reported higher scores for both experiencing and perpetrating cyber dating abuse compared to females, who had higher fear of intimacy scores. Students in romantic relationships experienced and perpetrated more cyber dating abuse (p < .05). Longer relationship durations were associated with increased monitoring and controlling behaviors. Smokers showed a positive correlation between cyber dating abuse and fear of intimacy (p < .05). The significant relationship between cyber dating abuse and fear of intimacy found in this study highlights the need for interventions. University-targeted programs should be developed to address these issues, and public health nurses should conduct awareness and educational programs to prevent such abuse.