An Ecological Model of Physical Assault Perpetration and Victimization Among University Students in China

• In Event: Intimate Partner Violence: Development and Desistance Across Time, Space, and Place

Abstract

Dating violence is a serious social problem worldwide. This study examined the prevalence and risk factors of physical assault perpetration and victimization by applying the ecological model. A self-report survey study was conducted among 1391 university students from sixteen universities in China. Logistic regression was used to examine the associated factors in the ecological framework including ontogenic, the microsystem, the exosystem and the macrosystem of the presence of physical assault. Results indicated that the prevalence of minor physical assault perpetration and victimization and severe physical assault perpetration and victimization in the preceding year among Chinese university students were 34.1%, 16.2%, 23.9% and 12.5% respectively. Significant differences were found between genders in minor and severe perpetration. Regarding all types of minor and severe physical assault perpetration and victimization, “sex as part of relationship” significantly increased the likelihood of preceding year physical assault after controlling for all other variables in the model. “Good anger management” was associated with a decrease in the odds of physical assault perpetration and victimization. Participants in Taiwan were less likely to perpetrate or be victimized by minor or severe physical assault. Female students were more likely to report minor and severe physical assault perpetration than male counterparts.

Author

• Jia Xue, University of Pennsylvania