Predictors of Dating Violence Among Chinese Adolescents: The Role of Gender-Role Beliefs and Justification of Violence
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
Journal Volume
27
Journal Issue
6
Pages
1066-1089
Date Issued
2012
Author(s)
Abstract
In Chinese societies, violence among adolescent dating partners remains a largely ignored and invisible phenomenon. The goal of this study is to examine the relationships among gender-role beliefs, attitudes justifying dating violence, and the experiences of dating-violence perpetration and victimization among Chinese adolescents. This study has used self-reporting measures to collect data from a probability sample of 976 adolescents (mean age = 15.9) in three Chinese societies: Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Research results reveal a high prevalence of dating violence (including physical violence, sexual violence, and controlling behavior) among Chinese adolescents with dating experience: the perpetration rate is 27.3% and the victimization rate is 39%. Study results demonstrate that adolescents who endorse traditional gender-role beliefs tend to view dating violence as acceptable behavior. Boys' endorsement of traditional gender roles, boys' attitudes justifying boy-on-girl violence, and boys' attitudes against girl-on-boy violence predict boys' actual sexual-violence behavior. Moreover, boys' attitudes justifying boy-on-girl dating violence is the strongest predictor of boys' perpetration of physical and sexual dating violence. This study also shows that boys' hostility is a significant predictor of boys' controlling behavior. Programs for preventing dating violence should include components designed to challenge traditional gender-role beliefs and attitudes justifying dating violence. © The Author(s) 2012.
Subjects
adolescents; Chinese; dating violence; gender role; justification of violence
Other Subjects
adolescent; adult; article; attitude; child behavior; China; courtship; cross-sectional study; ethnology; female; gender identity; human; human relation; male; psychological aspect; questionnaire; regression analysis; school; statistics; Taiwan; victim; violence; Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Attitude; China; Courtship; Crime Victims; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Gender Identity; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Questionnaires; Regression Analysis; Schools; Taiwan; Violence; Young Adult
Type
journal article