Moderating Effects of Social Networks on Gender-Based Violence and Intimate Partner Violence Among North Korean Refugee Women

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between gender-based violence (GBV) experienced before and during migration and increased risk for intimate partner violence (IPV) among North Korean (NK) refugee women after resettlement in South Korea. We also assessed the mitigating role of two types of social networks (i.e., bonding and bridging) in the relationship between GBV and IPV. Bonding networks (i.e., relationships with people sharing similar backgrounds and experiences) have been found to protect IPV victims by providing them with emotional support, and bridging networks (i.e., extended connections with people from different backgrounds) to help victims with their response strategies to IPV. Method: A cross-sectional survey was administered to NK refugee women living in South Korea (N = 212). Results: Multivariate analyses revealed that past GBV exposure was significantly associated with current IPV exposure. Both types of social networks significantly attenuated the relationship between GBV and IPV. Conclusions: The findings of this study showed that a history of GBV victimization could increase risk of IPV from current partners, as male partners of NK refugee women with experiences of GBV might perceive past sexual victimization as a disgrace and perpetrate violence during conflicts. However, IPV victimization might be prevented by enhancing social networks. Bonding networks might provide emotional support for NK refugee women, and bridging networks might help them find necessary resources and information to respond to the violence. Thus, violence prevention and intervention approaches should consider the extent to which bonding and bridging social networks affect IPV victims and revictimization.