Association Between Intimate Partner Violence and Suicidal Ideation Among Female and Male Adults in South Korea: A Nationally Representative Longitudinal Study

Abstract

This study sought to assess the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and to examine the sex-stratified associations between IPV and suicidal ideation in South Korea. This study used nationally representative longitudinal survey data from 2011 to 2020 of the Korean Welfare Panel Study of 9732 married adults at baseline. Participants were annually asked about IPV experiences of verbal abuse, physical threat, or physical assault over the past year in 2011–2019. Suicidal ideation in the past year was assessed in the following year 2012–2020 of IPV experiences. Using multilevel logistic regression models, we examined the associations between IPV and suicidal ideation among married adults. The prevalence of verbal abuse, physical threat, and physical assault was respectively 19.8%, 3.0%, and 1.4% in females ( n = 5056); and 18.8%, 2.7%, and 1.0% in males ( n = 4676). After adjusting for potential confounders (e.g., lifetime suicidal ideation and random effects of individuals and households) in the same year when participants had IPV experiences, all types of IPV experiences were statistically associated with suicidal ideation in the following year among both females and males, except for physical threat among males. We found a statistically significant association between physical threat and suicidal ideation among females (adjusted odds ratio: 2.22, 95% confidence interval: 1.62, 3.04), whereas no association was observed among males. Our findings suggest that public health interventions related to suicidal behaviors that can be attributable to experiencing IPV are necessary among both females and males in South Korea.

Piloting a Peer Support Program for Patients Who Screen Positive for Intimate Partner Violence, Suicidal Ideation, and Depression

“…Finally, it is notable that men made up more than one-fourth of this cohort of multimorbid individuals reporting IPV victimization, suicidality, and depression. These findings provide support for research involving men showing links between IPV victimization and suicidality [11,16] but are in contrast to the studies that found no link among men between suicidality and IPV victimization [14,15] and an inverse relationship between IPV and depression [15]. Perhaps the recent suicide attempt that triggered the SOS team involvement for many participants was a sample characteristic that accounts for these findings.…”

“…In fact, a previous systematic review showed that among women, IPV, suicide attempts, and depression were positively linked; however, among men, depression and IPV were associated in a negative direction, and there was no link between IPV and suicidality [15]. However, more recently, a South Korean study showed that past-year experiences of IPV were associated with suicidal ideation among both men and women [16]. There is also some evidence that IPV perpetration, as opposed to victimization, may be more associated with suicide among men.…”

Prolonged Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence and Depressive Symptoms Among Korean Married Couples: The Intersection of Gender and Education

“…Given the significance of marriage in one's life, especially in East Asian societies, it is not surprising that victims are often forced to endure abusive relationships. However, since IPV is an apparent crime that violates individual safety and human rights, victims should be provided with all possible protections (R. Kim et al 2022). Considering that victims of prolonged IPV are constantly affected in a way that undermines their psychological health, the most effective way to combat IPV is to adopt preventative measures or, at the very least, to enable them to seek protection as soon as possible.…”

“…Given the significance of marriage in one’s life, especially in East Asian societies, it is not surprising that victims are often forced to endure abusive relationships. However, since IPV is an apparent crime that violates individual safety and human rights, victims should be provided with all possible protections (R. Kim et al 2022).…”