WITHDRAWN: Multiple Experiences of Abuse and Violence in Korea: Does Violence Beget Violence?

BACKGROUND:

Recent research has demonstrated the importance of studying multiple forms of violence victimization during childhood (Finkelhor, Ormrod, & Turner, 2007). Children who have experienced poly-victimization in childhood are more likely to have elevated levels of lifetime adversities and distress than those who have experienced single form of victimization. Furthermore, poly-victimization tends to generate more negative outcomes as harmful as re-victimization in adulthood. Since the Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) was first developed in Untied States, global research efforts in many countries have been made to prevent abuse and violence against children. In particular, previous research in Asian and Pacific Island provides evidence that adverse childhood experiences are linked to negative outcomes of adolescents and adults. Despite growing research on the relationships between ACEs and negative outcomes, however, there has been a lack of ACE studies in Korea. Prior research has focused on only one or a few types of the large spectrum of victimization in childhood. Little research has been conducted to address the full burden of victimization exposure and the strength of the relationship between victimization and negative outcomes in adulthood. Thus, using the Korean National Childhood Adverse Experiences Study, a nationally representative study of Korean adults with children, the study examines the relationships between adverse childhood experiences, past violence experiences in adulthood, and current violence perpetration among adults in Korea.

METHODS:

A nationally representative household survey of Korean adults with children under the age of 18 (n = 4,008) has been conducted in 2017 through face-to-face interview utilizing Tablet Aided Personal Interviewing. Childhood experiences were measured by applying a modified Adverse Childhood International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ). In addition to ACE-IQ, information on date violence workplace violence, and abuse in military in past adulthood were collected. Outcome variables include perpetration of domestic violence including child abuse, spouse abuse, and elderly abuse. Multivariate logistic regression was utilized to estimate the association between adverse childhood experiences, violence victimization in past adulthood, and current violence perpetuation.

RESULTS:

Descriptive results indicate that the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences among Korean adults were 79%. Adults who have ever experienced victimization of abuse in military during the past adulthood were highest (34.7%) compared to workplace violence(25.7%) and date violence(5.6%). Results also show that adults who both experiences abuse and adverse experiences both in childhood and adulthood are 68.2%. Logistic regression results show that the adverse childhood experiences have increased the odds of abuse perpetration by 40%. Also, the results show that compared with adults who never experienced violence in their past adulthood, adults with one or more violence exposure had an estimated 642% increase in their odds of abuse perpetration.

DISCUSSION:

Findings from the study add evidence supporting the association between multiple types of victimization experiences across life span and current perpetration experiences. The findings demonstrate the importance of assessing victimization in childhood and adulthood a critical predictor of current violence perpetration. More integrated approach to prevent victimization of multiple types of violence and abuse across life course in both public policy intervention and practices needed.