A Systematic Literature Review on the Perception of Dating Violence Victimization: Focusing on Academic Journals in Korea

This study systematically reviewed and analyzed 38 studies on the perception of dating violence victimization published in Korea academic journals from 2010 to 2024, following the PRISMA guidelines. The research aimed to comprehensively analyze victims’ recognition processes and related factors. The analysis confirmed that existing studies on dating violence primarily relied on quantitative research methodologies and focused on adults including college student populations. Furthermore, the victims’ process of recognizing violence was found to be devided into four stages: pre-recognition, confusion, transition, and establishment periods. In particular, invisible forms of violence such as emotional violence, sexual violence, coercive behaviors, and gaslighting appeared to be difficult for victims to perceive. Three major factors were found to influence the perception of violence. These included, first, individual characteristics like self-esteem and attachment style; second, childhood trauma; and third, sociocultural factors, including gender role stereotypes and a lack of education. The discussion on dating violence research emphasized the importance of a victim-centered approach, proposing the need of future longitudinal studies to track shifts in perception and expand related research.