Understanding adolescent peer sexual harassment and abuse: using the theory of planned behavior.
This study examines intentions to take protective action against peer sexual harassment and abuse (PSHA). The theory of planned behavior (TPB) proposes that attitudes about protective action, perceptions of what others would think about doing this (subjective norms), and behavioral control would be important predictors. A total of 1,531 Chinese secondary school students (769 boys and 762 girls) from Hong Kong were surveyed to test this model. Results showed that the TPB model was predictive for girls, but only subjective norms and behavioral control significantly predicted boys' intentions to protect themselves. Results supported the influence of subjective norms and perceived behavioral control on youths' intentions to reject PSHA. These factors may be useful in guiding the development of an educational program for prevention of PSHA.
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. mal109@pitt.edu
Man Yu
MY
Li
Irene
I
Frieze
Catherine So-kum
CS
Tang
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010379:Peer Group; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011582:Psychological Theory; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D017406:Sexual Harassment / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012945:Social Values / Q000208:ethnology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*