Prevalence and risk factors of violence against women and children during COVID-19, Germany

Abstract

Objective To assess the prevalence and exacerbating factors of violence against women and children in Germany during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods We conducted a representative online survey with partnered women (18–65 years) between 22 April and 8 May 2020, when participants had been under lockdown for a month. We determined the prevalence of several forms of violence within the previous month using both direct elicitation and a list experiment. We conducted a multivariable logistic regression to assess the impact of pandemic-associated risk factors. Findings Of our 3818 survey respondents, 118 (3.09%; 95% confidence interval, CI: 2.54 to 3.64) reported incidents of physical conflict, 293 (7.67%; 95% CI: 6.83 to 8.52) reported emotional abuse, and 97 (6.58%; 95% CI: 5.31 to 7.85) of 1474 respondents with children reported child corporal punishment. We estimated that 3.57% (95% CI: −0.33 to 7.46) had non-consensual intercourse with their partner. Our regression analysis revealed an increased risk of physical conflict with home quarantine (odds ratio, OR: 2.38; 95% CI: 1.56 to 3.61), financial worries (OR: 1.60; 95% CI: 0.98 to 2.61), poor mental health (OR: 3.41; 95% CI: 2.12 to 5.50) and young (< 10 years) children (OR: 2.48; 95% CI: 1.32 to 4.64); we obtained similar results for other forms of violence. Awareness and use of pertinent support services was low. Conclusion Our findings of an increased risk of domestic violence during the pandemic should prompt policy-makers to improve the safety of women and children. Interventions to alleviate risks factors and extend support services are required.

Life With Corona: Increased Gender Differences in Aggression and Depression Symptoms Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Burden in Germany

“…GD in aggression are not significant at baseline and for household characteristics (being the main provider, living with children, living alone). While previous studies have established strong evidence for an increase of domestic and cyberviolence during the pandemic ( Fraser, 2020 ; Perez-Vincent et al, 2020 ; Ebert and Steinert, 2021 ), we show that the pandemic facilitates the development of aggression particularly in men. Previous studies have found robust correlations of the applied aggression questionnaire with act-based violence ( Archer and Webb, 2006 ; Jurczyk and Lalak, 2020 ), and emerging evidence in neuroscience points to the rewarding properties and self-perpetuating nature of violent acts ( Nell, 2006 ; Elbert et al, 2010 ; Golden and Shaham, 2018 ; Golden et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Indeed, this has previously been claimed to be a major health concern during the pandemic ( Bradbury-Jones and Isham, 2020 ; Telles et al, 2020 ), who argued that the impact of the pandemic has fueled stress and tensions within families, with an increased and continuous risk of domestic violence and divorce cases ( Chang, 2020 ; Peterman et al, 2020 ; Usher et al, 2020 ). Accordingly, several studies reported that the increase of domestic violence occurred especially during stricter lockdowns or states of emergency ( Campbell, 2020 ; Usher et al, 2020 ), e.g., a 55% increase of calls made to a domestic violence hotline during the lockdown in Argentina ( Perez-Vincent et al, 2020 ), or the reported increased risk of domestic violence during the pandemic in Germany ( Ebert and Steinert, 2021 ).…”

“…In 2016, during an epidemic of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Jeong et al (2016) examined the effects of a 2-week isolation period on anger and anxiety, and found about 16% of participants experienced anger when isolated due to MERS virus exposure. Several health experts and scientists have also observed increasing rates of family violence during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in situations of more stringent quarantines ( Fraser, 2020 ; Perez-Vincent et al, 2020 ; Telles et al, 2020 ; Ebert and Steinert, 2021 ). In a recent meta-analysis, Piquero et al (2021) found strong evidence for a moderate increase in domestic violence as a result of the pandemic based on 18 studies from the United States ( n = 12), Mexico ( n = 1), Argentina ( n = 1), India ( n = 1), Australia ( n = 1), and Europe ( n = 2).…”

“…In a recent meta-analysis, Piquero et al (2021) found strong evidence for a moderate increase in domestic violence as a result of the pandemic based on 18 studies from the United States ( n = 12), Mexico ( n = 1), Argentina ( n = 1), India ( n = 1), Australia ( n = 1), and Europe ( n = 2). A study in Germany estimated the prevalence of violence against women and children during the pandemic, reporting 3.1% of women suffered verbal and physical conflict during the previous month; 7.8% reported emotional abuse; 3.1% felt threatened by their partner; and 6.7% reported child corporal punishment ( Ebert and Steinert, 2021 ). The authors concluded that the risk of violence was more than double in households in quarantine, compared with households not in quarantine.…”

Violence against children during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Stress, anxiety and depression or threats to livelihoods during the pandemic can increase the risk of violence against children by caregivers and are also known risk factors for intimate partner violence. 26 – 28 The COVID-19 pandemic has limited caregiver’s access to health workers, home-based parenting programmes, social services and social support. In response, efforts to support caregiver income, occupation and mental health should be prioritized.…”