This article is an exploratory, correlational, descriptive and retrospective research aimed to study the potential relationship between maltreatment during childhood and the use of psychoactive drugs among university students. Self-reported child maltreatment was assessed through the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, and to evaluate family dysfunction and distress factors the Kessler Scale (K10) was applied to 302 students. The main indicators of childhood maltreatment were; negligence 18.2%, emotional abuse 17.9%, physical abuse 13.6%, sexual abuse 2.0%. Other relevant indicators were: mother/caregiver assaulted 9.3%, mother/caregiver repeatedly assaulted for at least a few minutes 5.3% and mother/caregiver wounded by knife or gunshot 3.6%. We conclude that there is a significant relationship between "emotional abuse" and "physical abuse"; and between "emotional abuse" and "family dysfunction"; and the detection of gender violence in families by socio-economic statuses.
Child abuse; Students; Family relations; Domestic violence