Demographic effects on attitudes toward dating violence and the need for legal protections.

Author

Kellianne K. Doan, University of Louisville

Date on Senior Honors Thesis

5-2013

Document Type

Senior Honors Thesis

Degree Name

B.S.

Department

Criminal Justice

Degree Program

College of Arts and Sciences

Author's Keywords

Demographic effects on dating violence

Abstract

Dating violence among college students, whether physical, sexual, or psychological is a serious problem with limited legal resources available for victims. Studies have shown that one in four undergraduate students is in an abusive dating relationship. In Kentucky, individuals in a dating relationship are not eligible to receive civil protective orders, leaving them without legal protection from abusive partners. A fifty‐question survey was administered to 200 students enrolled in Justice Administration courses at the University of Louisville to determine what demographic factors might be related to attitudes toward abuse in dating relationships and whether or not dating partners should have legal protection from such abuse. The findings suggested that the gender of the perpetrator as well as gender of the respondent were related to perceptions of reported attitudes toward dating abuse but none of the demographic factors measured predicted attitudes toward legal protections defined as the use of Emergency Protective Orders (EPO’s) in cases of abuse.

Recommended Citation

Doan, Kellianne K., "Demographic effects on attitudes toward dating violence and the need for legal protections." (2013). College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses. Paper 13.
http://doi.org/10.18297/honors/13