Detection of Dating Violence Among University Students in Health Sciences: A Multicentric Cross-Sectional Study in Spain and Colombia

Abstract

Introduction: Dating violence (DV) represents a critical public health challenge that disproportionately affects adolescents and young people. Among Health Sciences students, early detection is doubly important, both for their personal wellbeing and for their future role as frontline professionals in the identification of victims. The aim is to determine the prevalence and dynamics of dating violence (DV) among Health Sciences university students in Spain and Colombia, analyzing patterns of victimization and perpetration.

Material and methods: This multicenter cross-sectional study included 511 Health Sciences students from eight universities in Spain and Colombia. DV was assessed using the Multidimensional Dating Violence Scale (EMVN) developed by García-Carpintero et al. (2018). The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committees of all participating institutions.

Results: The findings reveal that control and surveillance, together with sexual violence, are the predominant dimensions, far exceeding physical violence. Digital control behaviors (“persistently sending messages through social media”) and subtle grooming behaviors (“giving unsolicited gifts or favors”) emerged as the most frequently reported indicators. The bivariate analysis revealed critical gaps: men reported significantly higher levels of perpetration of physical and sexual violence. In addition, the geographical context proved to be a determining factor, showing significant cultural variations in how the phenomenon manifests.

Conclusions: The results highlight that dating violence in this population is predominantly psychological and related to control. It is imperative to integrate education on equality and awareness of “warning signs” into the academic curriculum to transform these students into professionals capable of breaking the cycle of violence.

Implications: This pioneering study provides an international perspective on the vulnerability and perceptions of future health professionals. Its multicenter nature makes it possible to design intervention strategies adapted to specific sociocultural contexts, thereby strengthening the response capacity of health systems to gender-based violence.