“ If It’s Not a Slap or a Punch Then It’s Not Violence ”: Portuguese University Student’s Representations and Practices About Intimacies and Dating Violence

Dalila Cerejo (), Miguel Jesus and Lorena Tarriño-Concejero
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Dalila Cerejo: Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (NOVA FCSH), Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences (CICS.NOVA), Nova University Lisbon (NOVA), 1069-061 Lisbon, Portugal
Miguel Jesus: Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (NOVA FCSH), Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences (CICS.NOVA), Nova University Lisbon (NOVA), 1069-061 Lisbon, Portugal
Lorena Tarriño-Concejero: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy. Faculty of Nursing and Physiotherapy. University of Cadiz, 11009 Cadiz, Spain

Social Sciences, 2025, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-20

Abstract: This study aimed to analyze characteristics, representations, and practices of intimacies and violence in Portuguese university students. Data collection involved 10 focus groups with a total of 35 university students aged 18–23. The findings reveal that students conceptualize healthy relationships based on respect, trust, and individuality, reflecting egalitarian ideals. However, participants acknowledge persistent gendered expectations and asymmetries. Contributing factors to dating violence (DV) include gender stereotyping, social media, substance use, and specific social settings. While social media can foster connection, it also enables control and online abuse. Substance use, although not a direct cause, may exacerbate pre-existing tensions. DV predominantly occurs in private settings, though emotional abuse also surfaces in public spaces like social gatherings. Participants condemned DV but noted the societal normalization of less visible forms of violence. They highlighted the role of peers as primary support networks for victims but also pointed to passive attitudes when abuse involves acquaintances. These insights underscore the need for targeted interventions addressing social norms and enhancing informal support networks in university settings. This study enriches the limited qualitative research on DV among Portuguese youth and emphasizes the importance of aligning prevention strategies with the nuanced realities of young people’s relationships.

Keywords: dating violence; intimate partner violence; university students’ values and social representations; social representations; interpersonal relationships (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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