Relationship Dynamics and Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence Among Female Chinese College Students

Abstract

In China, most intimate partner violence (IPV) research focuses on male perpetration and female victimization, whereas studies on dating violence and female IPV perpetration are less common. Although research on female IPV perpetration in China has surfaced recently, there have been limited studies examining factors related to female perpetration in dating relationships in China. In the current research, we sought to examine how relationship factors, including anger management, communication problems, relationship conflict, and relationship distress, are linked with female physical and psychological IPV perpetration. We included 857 female college students in three regions in China from the International Dating Violence database. We found that Chinese women’s anger management skills and communication problems were both significantly associated with physical and psychological IPV perpetration on both minor and severe levels. Furthermore, we found that relationship conflict was significantly associated with minor and severe physical abuse perpetration and severe psychological abuse perpetration. Anger management skills moderated the negative effects of relationship conflict on minor physical IPV perpetration as well as minor and severe psychological IPV perpetration. Anger management skills also moderated the negative effects of relationship distress on minor and severe physical IPV perpetration among Chinese women. Our findings suggest that it may be important to explore the role of college women’s anger management skills, communication problems, and conflict resolution skills in their dating relationships, as well as to develop female-based intervention programs to increase Chinese college women’s relationship skills to reduce their levels of IPV perpetration.

The effects of irrational romantic relationship beliefs and experiences in close relationships on dating violence of nursing and midwifery students

“…In a survey conducted between couples, expectations from a woman or a man in a relationship, different thinking, and especially the man's desire to control the woman were correlated with violent behavior (Kılıçarslan & Parmaksız, 2020). Similar to different thinking, relationship conflict was correlated with severe physical and psychological abuse perpetration (Du et al, 2020). Irrational beliefs were associated with interpersonal problems, sexual dysfunction, repeated victimization, and avoidance (Kocturk & Bilge, 2017).…”

Gendered Perspectives on Intimate Partner Violence: A Comparative Study of General Population, Students and Professionals’ Beliefs

“…It is defined as any violent behaviors, such as physical, psychological/emotional, sexual, and stalking acts committed by an actual or ex-intimate partner (Neves and Almeida 2020;Almeida et al 2023;Soeiro et al 2023). Physical violence included being battered, pushed, slapped, throwing objects at the partner, stabbed, burned, strangled, and even attempted or committed murder (e.g., Du et al 2021;WHO 2013). Psychological/emotional violence aims to cause harm to the partner's self-esteem through verbal abuse and power/control actions (e.g., Coker et al 2002;Day et al 2003;Poehacker et al 2017).…”

Impulsivity and Empathy in Dating Violence among a Sample of College Females

“…The rate of DV varies according to the inclusion criteria used and differences in conceptual and methodological approach [ 6 ]. There are high variations in the prevalence in the student population, ranging from 5.5% to 65.6% [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Physical violence has been found in 17% to 45% of college relationships [ 11 ], sexual violence in 15% to 20%, and psychological/emotional violence in 50% to 80% [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”