PARTNER ABUSE, CONTROL AND VIOLENCE THROUGH INTERNET AND SMARTPHONES: CHARACTERISTICS, EVALUATION AND PREVENTION

Partner abuse is an important social problem due to its high prevalence and the consequences it entails for the victims. In recent years, information and communication technologies, such as the Internet and Smartphones, have become frequent tools for exercising controlling behavior and aggression in young couples. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a review of the research on online abuse in young couples. To this end, firstly, we analyze what this phenomenon consists of and the main manifestations of online abuse in the couple through the Internet and Smartphones. Then, a review is carried out of the instruments developed for the assessment of online abuse and their psychometric properties. Finally, several recommendations are outlined for the development of prevention strategies derived from the available empirical evidence.