Exploring key risk factors of intimate partner violence among chinese college students

Abstract

The global trend of violence in interpersonal disputes amongst couples is alarming. The literature reveals a need to identify factors that are associated with intimate partner violence (IPV). The identification of factors associated with IPV provide opportunity to develop strategies to minimise the cycle of violence. In our study site, Hong Kong, a predominant patriarchal society may be conducive to the overrepresentation of female victims of IPV. In a traditional Chinese society, women are particularly vulnerable to a range of risk factors associated with IPV. To explore such vulnerability, we examine how key risk and protective factors affect IPV tendency among young people who have grown up in a Chinese patriarchal society. An online questionnaire with six social and psychological scales was employed. Variables include: (i) trust; (ii) values and beliefs; (iii) history of abuse; (iv) stress; (v) acceptance of restorative justice philosophy; and (vi) IPV tendency. Our findings highlight gender differences with regard to values and beliefs towards gender equality and IPV tendency and confirm correlations exist between literature-informed explanatory risk and protective factors and IPV tendency.