Abstract

This study tested whether childhood exposure to parental partner abuse were associated with early adult psychological adaptation and date violence. Participants were 342 college students. Childhood exposure to parental partner abuse was related to depression, negative somatic symptoms, impulsivity. Among men, childhood exposure was associated negative somatic symptoms and impulsivity. and Among women, childhood exposure was associated negative somatic symptoms and depression. and Childhood exposure to partner abuse was related to date violence. But its effect is dependent on participant`s sex. Men who have exposed to parental partner abuse had experienced more date violence. But this is not true for women. The variables which discriminated significantly between who have experienced date violence and who have not were negative somatic symptoms and impulsivity were identified through stepwise discriminant analysis. The discussion addressed implications of the findings for future research and for clinical practice.