Intimate Partner Sexual Violence and Mental Health Indicators Among Chinese Emerging Adults

Abstract

Intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) among emerging adults, including heterosexuals and sexual minorities in the Chinese population, is poorly understood. Focusing on college students, the objectives of the present study were to estimate the prevalence of IPSV among Chinese emerging adults, examine the association between sexual orientation and IPSV, and evaluate the mental health and quality of life of survivors of IPSV. Data were collected from four university campuses in Hong Kong. A total of 1,015 participants were included in the data analysis. The prevalence of IPSV as identified by Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS)-2 was 12.1%. There was no gender difference in the prevalence of IPSV. Multiple logistic regression found that being older; having experienced childhood sexual abuse and having a smoking habit; and belonging to a sexual minority were factors associated with IPSV. Multiple linear regression found that IPSV survivors were more likely to have higher levels of anxiety and depression, more severe psychosomatic symptoms, and poorer quality of life in three domains: psychological, social relationships, and environment when compared with those without IPSV experience. The documented factors underscored the importance of awareness that men and sexual minorities might incur IPSV, which should receive more attention in IPSV prevention programs. Also, interventions for IPSV survivors should be targeted at improving their mental health and quality of life and sex education should place more emphasis on sexual consent and sexual health in dating relationships.

Associations of physical partner violence and sexual violence victimization on health risk behaviours and mental health among university students from 25 countries

“…Consistent with findings of various previous studies [2][3][4][5][10][11][12], this study found among men and women that physical IPV and/or sexual violence victimization was associated with sexual risk behaviour (having had multiple sexual partners, alcohol use in the context of sex, diagnosed with HIV and pregnancy), and violence related behaviour (been in a physical fight and carried a weapon). In agreement with previous findings [2,5,6,[8][9][10][11][12][13][16][17][18][19][20], physical IPV and/or sexual violence victimization was overall and among women associated with all 5 mental health indicators (depression, loneliness, PTSD, sleeping problem and short sleep) and among men 2 poor mental health indicators (PTSD and sleeping problem), and overall victimization was associated with 3 addictive behaviours (alcohol, tobacco and drug use), among women 2 addictive behaviours (binge drinking and tobacco use) and among men 2 addictive behaviours (tobacco use and drug use).…”

“…The study also found some evidence that physical IPV and/or sexual violence victimization was associated other health risk behaviours, such as an unhealthy diet (skipping breakfast and frequent salt intake), as found in a previous study [15]. Contrary to some previous investigations [5,15,[19][20][21][22][23], this study did not find an association between physical IPV and/or sexual violence victimization and physical inactivity, inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, not always wearing a seatbelt, poor self-rated health status, and poorer educational outcomes. In addition, some studies found an association between physical IPV and injury [5,10], while this study did not find this association.…”

“…Violence-related behaviours among adolescents and emerging adults may include in a physical fight [2,14], carried a weapon [2], handgun access [15], and injury [5,10]. Poor mental health as a consequence of physical IPV and/or sexual violence victimization among adolescents and emerging adults may include depression [5,9,11,12,[16][17][18][19][20], posttraumatic stress [5,11,12,16], anxiety [5,9,16,19], psychological distress [8,21], suicidal behaviour [2,14,17,20], sleep disorders [5,12,13], and disordered eating [5,10]. Several studies found that a history of physical IPV and/or sexual violence victimization among adolescents and emerging adults increased the odds for substance use, such as alcohol use or binge drinking [2,5,9,10,13], tobacco use [5,6], drug use [2,5,6,9,10,<...>…”

“…Other health risk behaviours include physical inactivity [5], eating unhealthy foods [15], such as inadequate fruit and vegetable intake [22], and not wearing a seatbelt [15]. Moreover, some studies found as a consequence of physical IPV and/or sexual violence victimization a poor self-rated health status [21,23], poor quality of life [19], and poorer educational outcomes [9,20].…”

Dating CAFE Ambassador Programme: Chinese College Students to Help Peers in Dating Violence

“…The International Dating Violence Study, which was conducted with college students in 32 countries, revealed that 30% of students had experienced physical assault and 20% had experienced sexual coercion over the past year (Straus, 2008). Recent statistics gathered in Hong Kong reported that a lower but substantial proportion of students in Hong Kong experience dating violence, with prevalence rates of 16.6% for physical victimization and 12.1% for sexual coercion among college students (Wong et al, 2019). Given the prevalence of physical and sexual violence among college students, effective programs for the prevention of dating violence are increasingly important.…”