Abstract
Background: Dating violence (DV) is a growing public and mental health concern among young people [1,2]. Gender-role internalization and power inequality shape both DV occurrence and help-seeking [3,4], yet Taiwan-specific qualitative evidence is limited.
Purpose: To explore DV and help-seeking among Taiwanese young adults from a gender perspective and to examine how gendered power imbalances affect coping and help-seeking behaviors.
Methods: This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews guided by the Knowledge–Attitude–Behavior (KAB) framework [5]. Nine young adults (eight women, one man; aged 19–26 years, M = 22.1) were recruited through purposive sampling. Interview transcripts were analyzed using content analysis to identify major themes.
Results: All participants experienced psychological violence (100%), followed by digital (66.7%), physical (55.6%), and sexual violence (33.3%). DV most commonly occurred in contexts of jealousy, refusal of control, or attempts to end the relationship. Gendered power imbalances led to blurred boundaries and reluctant submission within relationships. Participants attempted verbal resistance or physical defense, but emotional dependence and power disparities limited their effectiveness. Informal supports—particularly friends and peers—were the main sources of help, while formal help was often obtained through police referrals to domestic-violence prevention centers. Women tended to delay help-seeking due to shame and concerns about reputation, whereas men feared being disbelieved as victims. The impact of DV included anxiety, self-blame, shame, trauma-related symptoms, and disruptions in social, academic, and work functioning.
Conclusion/Implications: Internalized gender norms and power inequality suppress proactive help-seeking by limiting knowledge, shaping attitudes, weakening coping skills, and lowering self-efficacy (KAB). Findings support nursing education and community practice that promote early recognition, destigmatization, empowerment, and gender-sensitive referral pathways, and inform development of a digital prevention model aligned with SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being).
Notes
References:
1. Lin CY, Tseng YH, Lin ML, Hou WL. Factors related to intentions to commit dating violence among Taiwanese university students. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(4):1956.
2. Tian Z, Zhang N, Li Y, Wu Y, Wang L. Adverse childhood experiences and subsequent experiences of intimate partner violence in adulthood: a gender perspective. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci. 2024;33:e75.
3. Melkam M, Asnake AA, Mekuria Negussie Y, Bezie MM, Asmare ZA, Asebe HA, et al. Help-seeking behaviors and determinant factors among women exposed to intimate partner violence in East Africa: a multilevel analysis. Front Psychiatry. 2024;15:1402704.
4. Zhang T, Ren G, Ge H, Zhang H. Factors influencing formal and informal help-seeking behavior among battered Chinese women in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Behav Sci. 2025;15:961.
5. Baranowski T, Cullen KW, Nicklas T, Thompson D, Baranowski J. Are current health behavioral change models helpful in guiding prevention of weight gain efforts? Obes Res. 2003;11 Suppl:23S-43S.
Sigma Membership
Lambda Beta at-Large
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Stress and Coping, Primary Care, Help Seeking Behavior, Help Seeking Behavior--Sex Factors, Dating, Dating Violence, Cultural Values, Taiwan
Recommended Citation
Hou, Wen-Li, "Dating Violence and Help-Seeking Among Taiwanese Young Adults: A Gender Perspective" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 34.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/posters_2026/34
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-07-27
Funder
National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan
Dating Violence and Help-Seeking Among Taiwanese Young Adults: A Gender Perspective
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Background: Dating violence (DV) is a growing public and mental health concern among young people [1,2]. Gender-role internalization and power inequality shape both DV occurrence and help-seeking [3,4], yet Taiwan-specific qualitative evidence is limited.
Purpose: To explore DV and help-seeking among Taiwanese young adults from a gender perspective and to examine how gendered power imbalances affect coping and help-seeking behaviors.
Methods: This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews guided by the Knowledge–Attitude–Behavior (KAB) framework [5]. Nine young adults (eight women, one man; aged 19–26 years, M = 22.1) were recruited through purposive sampling. Interview transcripts were analyzed using content analysis to identify major themes.
Results: All participants experienced psychological violence (100%), followed by digital (66.7%), physical (55.6%), and sexual violence (33.3%). DV most commonly occurred in contexts of jealousy, refusal of control, or attempts to end the relationship. Gendered power imbalances led to blurred boundaries and reluctant submission within relationships. Participants attempted verbal resistance or physical defense, but emotional dependence and power disparities limited their effectiveness. Informal supports—particularly friends and peers—were the main sources of help, while formal help was often obtained through police referrals to domestic-violence prevention centers. Women tended to delay help-seeking due to shame and concerns about reputation, whereas men feared being disbelieved as victims. The impact of DV included anxiety, self-blame, shame, trauma-related symptoms, and disruptions in social, academic, and work functioning.
Conclusion/Implications: Internalized gender norms and power inequality suppress proactive help-seeking by limiting knowledge, shaping attitudes, weakening coping skills, and lowering self-efficacy (KAB). Findings support nursing education and community practice that promote early recognition, destigmatization, empowerment, and gender-sensitive referral pathways, and inform development of a digital prevention model aligned with SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being).
Description
This qualitative study examined dating violence and help-seeking among Taiwanese young adults. Results show how gendered power imbalance and internalized norms shape coping and help-seeking barriers. Findings inform school and community nursing to enhance recognition, empowerment, and gender-sensitive prevention of dating violence.