Factors for Intimate Partner Abuse (IPA) Victimization among College Students: Extending the Application of Routine Activities Theory

• In Event: Criminological Theory

Abstract

This study observes four types of intimate partner abuse victimization among college students with an application of the routine activities approach as a theoretical framework. The routine activities approach includes four theoretical dimensions: exposure to crime, potential offenders, target attractiveness, and guardianship. The source of data was collected from a mid-size university located in the mid-West region between Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 semesters. Results suggest that the habit of substance use of intimate partners (potential offenders) was an important risk factor related to respondents’ IPA victimization. Also, effective guardianship serves as a protector to decrease abuse toward the student respondents. The other two theoretical dimensions, however, do not show a significant impact on the abusive behaviors in the current sample.

Authors

• Kuang-Ming Chang, Central Police University, Taiwan

• Shih-Ya Kuo, University of Macau