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

Chung-Ying Lin, Ying-Hua Tseng, Mei-Ling Lin and Wen-Li Hou
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Chung-Ying Lin: Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
Ying-Hua Tseng: School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
Mei-Ling Lin: Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Hungkuang University, Taichung 43304, Taiwan
Wen-Li Hou: School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-14

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.

Keywords: behavioral intention; dating violence; theory of planned behavior (TPB); gender stereotyping; history of family violence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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