Factors Related to Intentions to Commit Dating Violence among Taiwanese University Students: Application of the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior.

Chung-Ying Lin,Mei-Ling Lin,Ying-Hua Tseng,Wen-Li Hou

doi:10.3390/ijerph18041956

Abstract

Dating violence (DV) constitutes a major public health and safety issue worldwide; however, only limited research into this important subject has been conducted in Taiwan. This study examined university students’ intention to commit DV, based on the expanded theory of planned behavior (TPB), with a history of family violence and gender stereotyping also included as further factors in the original TPB model. A total random sample consisting of 450 university students from four universities in four regions in Taiwan, namely, the northern, southern, central, and eastern regions, participated. Of these participants, 365 (81.1%) completed all of the parts of the questionnaires, which included a survey of demographic data, such as any history of family violence; a gender stereotyping questionnaire; and a DV behavioral intention questionnaire. The results showed that the three main variables of the TPB—that is, subjective norms, attitudes, and perceived behavioral control—significantly related to university students’ intentions to commit DV. More specifically, university students’ attitudes and subjective norms emerged as significant related factors of their intention to commit DV behaviors. Overall, the expanded TPB explained 30.4% of the variance in DV intentions, and attitude was the most significant factors after controlling the background variables. These findings can hopefully be used to help design and implement programs for the prevention of DV behaviors among university students.

Highlights

After controlling for age and gender, history of family violence, and gender stereotyping, we found that the three main variables of theory of planned behavior (TPB) explained an additional 24.1%, and the total variance was 30.4%
An expanded version of the TPB that included history of family violence and gender stereotyping as additional constructs within the original TPB model was used to investigate the intentions of university students to engage in Dating violence (DV) against their dating partners, even as the original TPB itself was applied to determine its applicability to such behavior
The study results indicated, as hypothesized, that the components of the TPB were significant related factors of the behavioral intentions of the investigated university students to engage in DV behaviors, accounting for 28.8% of the total variance in such intentions

Summary

Introduction

Dating violence (DV) is a significant public health and safety problem in Taiwan [1]. Around the world [2,3]. Youths between the ages of 16 and 24 are most likely at a period in their lifecycle to develop a dating relationship and were in their most dangerous period for intimate partner violence [4]. An early DV experience may cause acute and chronic physical and mental health problems [5,6,7] and may cause someone to become a perpetrator or a victim of domestic violence [8]. In America, 66% of college students have experienced DV as at least one physical, sexual, or verbal assault [9].

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion