The International Dating Violence Study: Preliminary results on rates of physical and sexual assault in nine countries

Abstract

Numerous studies in the USA and Canada have found an extremely high prevalence of physical and sexual assault on dating partners by university students; for example, rates of physical assault of 20 to 40% in the previous 12 months are typical in the USA. One purpose of the International Dating Violence Study is to examine the extent to which these high rates are found in other countries. The second, and most important purpose is to test theories purporting to explain this phenomenon. The study will include over 30 countries. This paper presents data for the first seven sites to provide data: Montreal and Winnipeg, Canada; Hong Kong, China; Ciudad Juarez, Mexico; Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Fribourg, Switzerland.(French and German speakers), Separate rates will be presented for male and female offenders and for minor and severe levels of physical assault, injury, and sexual coercion.