With a number states planning to make coercive control against the law, concerns have been raised about half of Australians don't know what the term means.
Most people consider coercive control - a pattern of abusive behaviour designed to undermine the autonomy of another individual - to be completely unacceptable.
But an ANU survey of 3500 adults about their views on coercive control found only 55 per cent know what it is.
The study found significant gender differences, with women were more likely than men to be very disapproving of different forms of coercive control and also more likely to know what it is.
Forms of coercive control can include threatening to harm other loved ones, financial abuse and restricting contact with family and friends.
NSW became the first state to outlaw coercive control, with the laws coming into effect from July 2024, while similar laws introduced to Queensland's parliament are expected to come into effect in January 2025.
South Australia's Labor government has said it is also prioritising creating laws targeting coercive control and protecting victims.
ANU's study found 83 per cent of Australians agreed or strongly agreeing coercive control should be a criminal offence, with support strongest among English-speaking Australians, older people and respondents with higher levels of education.
Conversely, a significant proportion of younger people had "condoning or minimising" attitudes towards some forms of coercive behaviour.
Support for criminalisation of coercive control was lowest among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander respondents.
Report co-author Dr Hayley Boxall said it was concerning young people potentially in their first relationships were less concerned about coercive or controlling behaviours.
"It's during these formative relationships that we develop our understanding of acceptable and unacceptable behaviours within intimate relationships," she said.
The results showed the need for targeted campaigns to raise awareness about coercive control in Australia, particularly for young people, men and people from non-English speaking backgrounds, the study authors said.
