Understanding Self-Harm in Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: A Qualitative Analysis of Calls Made by Victims to a Crisis Hotline in China
Abstract
Text analysis of the transcripts of 26 calls made to a Chinese crisis hotline by victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) reporting thoughts or acts of self-harm abstracted information on victims' patterns of self-harm and the relationship of their self-harm to IPV. Specific violent episodes often triggered self-harm. Victims considered self-harm a method for airing painful emotions caused by abuse or as a last resort to escape by dying when they saw no other options and were no longer able to endure the violence. We also elaborate on callers' discussions of barriers to accessing support, sociocultural pressures to preserve "face" and family, and restrictive gender roles that contribute to their self-harm behaviors.
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Intimate partner violence is associated with self-harm in women.
“IPV was associated with a range of mental health issues including depression, PTSD, anxiety, self-harm, and sleep disorders.”
From Mental and Physical Health and Intimate Partner Violence against Women: A Review of the Literature (2013) · cites this paper as [62]
A qualitative study of self-harm in victims of intimate partner violence in China revealed that victims considered self-harm to be a method for airing painful emotions caused by abuse, or a last resort to escape by dying when they saw no other option and were no longer able to endure the violence.
“A qualitative study of self-harm in victims of intimate partner violence in China [62] revealed that victims considered self-harm to be a method for airing painful emotions caused by abuse, or a last resort to escape by dying when they saw no other option and were no longer able to endure the violence.”
From Mental and Physical Health and Intimate Partner Violence against Women: A Review of the Literature (2013) · cites this paper as [62]
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- Authors
- Wong, S. P. Y., Wang, C., Meng, M., & Phillips, M. R.
- Affiliations
- Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital (CN)
- Venue
- Violence Against Women
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2011-04
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 532-544
- ISSN
- 1077-8012 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-8448
- OpenAlex
- W2157463889
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 0.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Violence Against Women (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Ford Foundation
- Fogarty International Center
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
- Keywords
- self-harm, intimate partner violence, help-seeking barriers, face preservation, gender roles, sociocultural pressure, emotional coping, China
- MeSH terms
- China, Culture, Emotions, Female, Gender Identity, Humans, Sexual Partners, Social Support, Spouse Abuse, Stress, Psychological, Hotlines, Self-Injurious Behavior, Battered Women, Suicidal Ideation
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