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Estimating the Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence in Mainland China – Insights and Challenges

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Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been the subject of inquiry by scholars and governments, the latter being required by International Conventions and explicitly supported in National Plans in select jurisdictions to undertake this type of research. While establishing the prevalence of IPV has been a priority globally for some time now, there has been relatively little focus on estimating the prevalence of IPV in Mainland China until recently. This article presents the findings of a scoping review of literature examining the prevalence of IPV in China. The scoping process located only 14 peer-reviewed articles written in English and 12 in Chinese-language journals published between 1997 and 2016 meeting the inclusion criteria set for the review. The results of the scoping review indicate that in China, the lifetime prevalence of victimization of IPV reported in the general population is within a range of 17.4 to 24.5% for psychological violence, 2.5 to 5.5% for physical violence, and 0.3 to 1.7% for sexual violence using national survey data. The prevalence of IPV in China can also be estimated from research data sets focusing on specific population groups. However, the methodologies used in such studies vary considerably making comparison of results difficult. As well as providing insight into the prevalence of IPV in China, this article identifies the challenges in estimating prevalence and presents contextual factors particular to China. Directions for future research to develop a culturally specific definition of IPV and identify IPV in non-married couples are also suggested.

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Notes

  1. These are behaviors of being confined personal freedom; being insulted/abused; being ignored for a few days; economic control; being beat up; being forced to have sexual activity.

  2. Mild physical violence was measured by asking participants to report behaviors including being smashed by things; being pushed, scratched, bumped; being slapped; being kicked, bitten, hit with a fist; being beat up continuously, all of which are specified in various definitions derived from Chinese studies. Severe physical violence was measured by reports of behaviors including being beat bound hand and foot; being hit with a stick, brick, fire tong, spatula, wrench; being burn with a cigarette, whipped with a belt, being pierced with a needle, being scalded with boiling water, being burnt with fire; being threated or stabbed with a knife or other sharp objects; being strangled, one’s head being pressed in the water, being suffocated by pillows; being pushed down the stairs, being forced to drink poison, being sprayed with sulfuric acid or gasoline.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Sociology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuchang, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Ting Yang

  2. School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    Abner Weng Cheong Poon & Jan Breckenridge

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  1. Ting Yang
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  2. Abner Weng Cheong Poon
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Correspondence to Ting Yang.

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Yang, T., Poon, A.W.C. & Breckenridge, J. Estimating the Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence in Mainland China – Insights and Challenges. J Fam Viol 34, 93–105 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-018-9989-9

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