Intimate partner violence in the time of COVID-19: An investigation into housing density and number of rooms as contributing factors

Abstract

COVID-19 lockdowns have resulted in significant societal disruptions, intensifying family stress and escalating instances of intimate partner violence (IPV). Lockdowns necessitated prolonged proximity to abusers, magnifying home's significance as a space of victimization. The current study conducted in Korea (n = 813) examined the impact of housing density and room count on COVID-19-related IPV. Analyzing data from Seongnam City, Korea, the study examined a couple of pre-/postpandemic, factors covariates like gender, age, employment, education, and income. Using STATA 13.0, the study conducted multiple logistic regression to examine the association between housing conditions and IPV during and prior to COVID-19, with all covariates included. Housing density was associated with emotional IPV victimization before COVID-19, while the number of rooms was associated with physical and sexual IPV victimization before COVID-19 and sexual IPV victimization after COVID-19. Time spent with partners was significantly associated with emotional IPV victimization, and the association between the number of rooms and sexual IPV victimization remained significant after adjusting for COVID-19-related variables. Practical implications and recommendations are discussed to address this issue and protect vulnerable populations from harm. Although poor housing conditions have been linked to increased stress levels and comprised mental health, scant attention has been paid to those relationships.