Preferences for Police Response to Domestic Violence: A Comparison of College Students in Three Chinese Societies

While a large amount of research has been conducted in the West on domestic violence related issues, only a small number of
studies have focused specifically on Chinese societies. Using survey data collected from Beijing, Hong Kong, and Taipei, this
study compares college students’ preferences for traditional and proactive police intervention into domestic violence and
assesses the determinants of such preferences in the three Chinese societies. The findings indicate that Hong Kong students
showed the highest level of support for traditional police response, followed by students in Beijing and Taipei, while students
in Taipei displayed the strongest preference for proactive police response, followed by students in Hong Kong and Beijing.
College students’ preferences for traditional police response were shaped mainly by their locality, whereas their preferences
for proactive police intervention were influenced chiefly by their attitudes toward violence and gender roles. Directions
for future research are discussed.