Gender-specific differences in risk for intimate partner violence in South Korea

Background: Various risk factors of intimate partner violence (IPV) have been found to vary by gender. South Korea has one of the highest prevalences of IPV in the world; however, little is known about potential risk factors of IPV and whether gender influences this relationship. Methods: Using data from the 2006 Korea Welfare Panel Study, 8,877 married participants (4,545 men and 4,332 women) aged >= 30 years were included. Reported IPV was categorized as verbal or physical IPV and the association between IPV and related factors was assessed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Women were significantly more likely than men were to report IPV victimization (verbal 28.2% vs. 24.4%; physical 6.9% vs. 3.4%). Women reported perpetrating verbal IPV against their partner more often than men did (26.7% vs. 25.3%). However, more men reported perpetrating physical violence against their wife (5.1% vs. 3.4%). A low perceived level of satisfaction with family and life were the strongest predictors of physical victimization and perpetration in IPV among men and women. Men dissatisfied with their family relationships had a 5.49 higher odds (95% CI, 2.91-10.37) of physical victimization than men satisfied with their family. Women dissatisfied with their family relationships had a 9.46 (5.21-17.19) higher odds of physical perpetration than women satisfied with their family. Moreover, alcohol intake was significantly associated with IPV perpetration and victimization in both genders. Conclusion: Significant gender-specific differences were found among factors related to perpetrating violence and being a victim of violence among adults in heterosexual relationships in South Korea.