A Latent Profile Analysis of Cyber Dating Abuse Among College Students: Associations With Maladaptive Personality...

Cyber dating abuse (CDA) is a novel form of relationship violence enacted via technology, which is largely understudied despite the elevated rates during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, extant research indicates that maladaptive personality traits (psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism), negative emotionality (depression, anxiety, and stress), and impulsivity are all associated with CDA; yet, how the culmination of these factors may influence one's propensity for CDA has not been examined. Thus, the present study assessed how maladaptive personality, negative emotionality, and impulsivity may be associated with CDA and whether these characteristics could comprise distinct profiles to predict differences in CDA victimization and perpetration. Predominantly Latinx female college students (N = 590, M_age = 20.35, 75.6% female) completed an online questionnaire assessing CDA, dark triad, depression, anxiety, stress, and impulsiveness. A latent profile analysis generated profiles based on background characteristics (e.g., maladaptive personality) to predict sexual and nonsexual CDA perpetration and victimization. Results from four Kruskal-Wallis tests indicated significant differences between profile membership and sexual and nonsexual CDA perpetration and victimization. Individuals in the profile with relatively low levels of maladaptive personality traits, impulsivity, and subclinical levels of negative emotionality displayed the lowest levels of CDA, which indicates that negative emotionality may function as a catalyst to exacerbate impulsively engaging in CDA. Further, impulsive individuals with greater negative emotionality may also be more likely to seek validation online and to be victimized as a result. Interventions targeting these key variables may be beneficial to reduce rates of both perpetration and victimization.