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First published online January 20, 2021

Cross-Cultural Differences in Student Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review

Laura Zark https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7672-1758 [email protected] and Lata Satyen https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5385-4251View all authors and affiliations
Volume 23, Issue 3
https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838020985565

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major human rights and public health problem which occurs at exceptionally high rates among tertiary students. Attitudes toward IPV are increasingly being recognized as a key risk factor for IPV and targeted in IPV prevention programs on college and university campuses. Understanding the influence of culture on attitudes toward IPV is necessary to change attitudes supportive of IPV and ultimately reduce the occurrence of IPV in the student population. This review sought to systematically identify, appraise, and synthesize research studies examining cross-cultural differences in attitudes toward IPV among tertiary students. A comprehensive search of nine electronic databases was conducted from inception to 15 May 2019. Studies were required to have compared attitudes toward IPV (e.g., acceptance or justification of IPV) among two or more cultural groups (based on country, race, or ethnicity) of tertiary students. Eighteen articles met eligibility criteria for the review, representing over 6,800 students. The studies provide considerable evidence that student attitudes toward IPV differ across cultures. Students in the United States and ethnic majority students in the United States generally showed less accepting attitudes toward IPV than their counterparts in other countries and ethnic minority groups. The particular contexts in which IPV is justified may reflect cultural values and norms. The findings have important implications for prevention and intervention strategies aimed at improving attitudes toward IPV among tertiary students.

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Biographies

Laura Zark, BPsych(Hons), is a Doctor of Clinical Psychology candidate in the School of Psychology at Deakin University. Her research focuses on cross-cultural differences in intimate partner and family violence. She is interested in the prevention of all forms of violence against women and working therapeutically with victims/survivors.
Lata Satyen, PhD, is a senior lecturer in psychology at Deakin University and a registered psychologist. Her research focuses on the role of intersectionality in family/domestic violence. In 2017, she received the Government of Victoria Award for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs, and in 2019, she won a team Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Award for her family violence–related work.

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Published In

Volume 23, Issue 3
Pages: 1007 - 1022
Article first published online: January 20, 2021
Issue published: July 2022

Keywords

  1. intimate partner violence
  2. attitudes
  3. students
  4. culture
  5. cross-cultural differences

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PubMed: 33468028

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Laura Zark
School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7672-1758
[email protected]
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Lata Satyen
School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5385-4251
View all articles by this author

Notes

Laura Zark, School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia. Email: [email protected]

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