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Attitudes Toward Police Response to Domestic Violence: A Comparison of Chinese and American College Students

NCJ Number
241810
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 26 Issue: 16 Dated: November 2011 Pages: 3289-3315
Author(s)
Ivan Y. Sun; Mingyue Su; Yuning Wu
Date Published
November 2011
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This study compared the attitudes of Chinese and American college students to police response to domestic violence.
Abstract
Domestic violence has emerged as a worldwide concern since the 1970s. Although a substantial amount of efforts have been devoted to assessing various aspects of domestic violence, a relatively small number of studies have empirically examined factors that shape public attitudes toward police response to such incidents. Even rarer is investigating the topic from an international, comparative perspective. Based on survey data gathered from approximately 550 college students in China and the United States, this study analyzes the effects of background characteristics, personal and vicarious experiences of crime, and perceptions of gender roles and violence on attitudes toward proactive and traditional police response to domestic violence. Compared to their American counterparts, Chinese students were less likely to favor proactive response and more likely to support traditional response. Chinese and American students' attitudes toward police response to domestic violence were shaped by some different and common factors. Implications for policy and future research are discussed. Abstract published by arrangement with Sage Journals.