Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Intimate Partner Violence and the Survivors' Help-Seeking Among South Korean College Students

Background:

Intimate partner violence (IPV) among college students is a serious problem in South Korea (Korea). More than two thirds of college students reported psychological violence committed by intimate partners, 9-12% physical violence, and 2% sexual violence. However, little attention has been paid in Korea to IPV among college students and their help-seeking. Literature from other countries shows that IPV and the survivors’ help-seeking are affected by many factors, including adverse childhood experiences (ACE), such as child abuse and neglect. Those with ACE seem to be prone to IPV victimization, but the relationship between ACE and the survivor’s help-seeking has rarely been researched. Survivors with ACE might not seek help because of lasting trauma from ACE, or might seek help actively because they know its importance by their own experiences of ACE. This study examined these relationships for the first time in Korea, using data from six universities.

Method:

We collected data from six universities in Korea via online Survey Monkey in 2016. Of 1,944 undergraduate and graduate student participants, 1,500 who have had a romantic relationship and answered major study variables were included in this analysis. Major variables were help-seeking (yes/no), lifetime IPV victimization, health consequences of IPV (physical injury and mental health concern), ACE (e.g., peer violence, child abuse and neglect), alcohol use, depression, gender orientation, and university type (women only vs. co-ed). Two logistic regression analyses were conducted. First, using the full sample (n=1,500), IPV was entered as the dependent variable, with all other variables, except IPV consequences and help-seeking, as the independent, to examine the factors for IPV. Secondly, using the subsample of those who experienced IPV (n=186), help-seeking was entered as the dependent variable, with all other variables as the independent, to examine the factors for help-seeking.

Results:

The first logistic regression results showed that ACE and depression were associated with IPV; students were more likely to experience IPV if they had ACE (OR=1.451) or depressive symptoms (OR=1.028). All other variables were not significant. The second logistic regression results showed that of all factors, only mental health concerns after IPV were associated with the survivors’ help-seeking; students were less likely to seek help if they had mental health concerns after IPV (OR=0.373).

Conclusion:

The study findings provide the implications for practice as well as for research. As students with ACE or depressive symptoms are more likely to experience IPV, and those suffering mental health consequences are less likely to seek help, college mental health service providers need to screen for IPV and potential effects of ACE in their intake process, and work together with, and make a referral to, proper IPV services if needed. IPV service providers need to reach out for those who suffer from IPV but do not seek help due to their depressive symptoms or lasting effects of ACE, and improve their services into the trauma-informed. Future research needs to examine what happened after ACE (e.g., help-seeking and its outcomes) and how it affects the survivor’s help-seeking after IPV later.