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Chang G, Tucker JD, Walker K, Chu C, Miall N, Tan RKJ, Wu D. Intimate partner violence and its correlates in middle-aged and older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multi-country secondary analysis. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 4:e0002500. [PMID: 38753815 PMCID: PMC11098409 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) may have been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Middle-aged and older adults, ages 45 years or older, are at higher risk of COVID-19 mortality and social isolation. However, most studies on IPV during the pandemic do not focus on this important subpopulation. Informed by the social-ecological theory, this study examines individual, household, community, and country-level correlates of IPV among middle-aged and older adults in multiple countries using a cross-sectional online survey. Data from 2867 participants aged 45 or older in the International Sexual Health and Reproductive Health (I-SHARE) survey from July 2020 to February 2021 were described using univariate analysis. IPV was defined using four validated WHO measures. Individual characteristics included self-isolation and food security. At the country-level, we examined social distancing stringency. Logistic regression models with a random intercept for country were conducted to explore IPV correlates among 1730 eligible individuals from 20 countries with complete data. Most participants were heterosexual (2469/2867), cisgender (2531/2867) females (1589/2867) between the ages of 45-54 (1539/2867). 12.1% (346/2867) of participants experienced IPV during social distancing measures. After adjustment, participants who self-isolated experienced 1.4 (95% CI 1.0, 2.0, p = 0.04) times the odds of IPV compared to those who had not isolated. Those who reported an increase in food insecurity compared to pre-pandemic experienced 2.2 times the odds (95% CI 1.6, 3.0, p<0.0001) of IPV compared to those who did not report increased food insecurity. People in countries with more stringent social distancing policies were less likely to experience IPV compared to people in countries with lower levels of stringency (aOR = 0.6, 95% CI 0.4, 0.9, p = 0.04). IPV was common among middle-aged and older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our data suggest the need for further crisis management and social protection measures for middle-aged and older adults who have intersecting vulnerabilities to IPV to mitigate COVID-19 impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwendolyn Chang
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Population Research in Sexual Health and HIV, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph D. Tucker
- Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kate Walker
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Chu
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Naomi Miall
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rayner K. J. Tan
- University of North Carolina Project-China, Guangzhou, China
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Dan Wu
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Veldhuis CB, Kreski NT, Usseglio J, Keyes KM. Are Cisgender Women and Transgender and Nonbinary People Drinking More During the COVID-19 Pandemic? It Depends. Alcohol Res 2023; 43:05. [PMID: 38170029 PMCID: PMC10760999 DOI: 10.35946/arcr.v43.1.05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This narrative review of research conducted during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic examines whether alcohol use among cisgender women and transgender and nonbinary people increased during the pandemic. The overarching goal of the review is to inform intervention and prevention efforts to halt the narrowing of gender-related differences in alcohol use. SEARCH METHODS Eight databases (PubMed, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, Gender Studies Database, GenderWatch, and Web of Science) were searched for peer-reviewed literature, published between March 2020 and July 2022, that reported gender differences or findings specific to women, transgender or nonbinary people, and alcohol use during the pandemic. The search focused on studies conducted in the United States and excluded qualitative research. SEARCH RESULTS A total 4,132 records were identified, including 400 duplicates. Of the remaining 3,732 unique records for consideration in the review, 51 were ultimately included. Overall, most studies found increases in alcohol use as well as gender differences in alcohol use, with cisgender women experiencing the most serious consequences. The findings for transgender and nonbinary people were equivocal due to the dearth of research and because many studies aggregated across gender. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Alcohol use by cisgender women seems to have increased during the pandemic; however, sizable limitations need to be considered, particularly the low number of studies on alcohol use during the pandemic that analyzed gender differences. This is of concern as gender differences in alcohol use had been narrowing before the pandemic; and this review suggests the gap has narrowed even further. Cisgender women and transgender and nonbinary people have experienced sizable stressors during the pandemic; thus, understanding the health and health behavior impacts of these stressors is critical to preventing the worsening of problematic alcohol use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy B Veldhuis
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Noah T Kreski
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - John Usseglio
- Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library, Columbia Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Katherine M Keyes
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
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Bhuptani PH, Hunter J, Goodwin C, Millman C, Orchowski LM. Characterizing Intimate Partner Violence in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review. TRAUMA, VIOLENCE & ABUSE 2023; 24:3220-3235. [PMID: 36321779 DOI: 10.1177/15248380221126187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant global health concern. Numerous research studies document increases in IPV since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Despite this widespread recognition, research around the nature of this violence is still growing. This systematic review summarizes the existing literature documenting the prevalence and characteristics of IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inclusion criteria are as follows: reported original data empirical study, assessed for IPV among adult population in the United States, and was published in English between December 2019 and March 2022. A total of 53 articles were then independently reviewed and sorted into four thematic subcategories: victimization, perpetration, articles addressing victimization and perpetration, and provider perspectives. Studies document consistent increases in the prevalence of IPV victimization and perpetration. Providers within agencies providing support to individuals impacted by IPV also documented increased strain on the agencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prachi H Bhuptani
- Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, USA
- Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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Krause-Utz A, Černáková R, Hoogenboom W, Schulze A, Büttner S, Demirelli Z, Mouthaan J, van Schie CC, Garnefski N, Kraaij V. Psychological Factors Linked to Intimate Partner Violence and Childhood Maltreatment: On Dissociation as a Possible Bridge Symptom. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2023; 38:11400-11428. [PMID: 37431756 PMCID: PMC10515471 DOI: 10.1177/08862605231181377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious health concern, occurring worldwide in various forms and settings. Over the past years, multiple sources reported an increase of IPV globally, partly related to COVID-19 restrictions. Childhood maltreatment enhances the risk of IPV, possibly via alterations in emotion regulation, attachment, maladaptive core beliefs, dissociation, and psychopathological symptoms. However, studies investigating these associations simultaneously are still needed. This study aimed to investigate association between IPV, childhood maltreatment severity, maladaptive schemata (mistrust, alienation, enmeshment), attachment anxiety, social support, emotion regulation, dissociation, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms. We further explored the complex interplay of all factors, accounting for their shared associations. An anonymous online survey was posted on international online platforms for people experiencing domestic violence and on research platforms. Regression analyses and graph-theoretical network analysis were used to explore associations between all variables. N = 434 participants (40% in treatment) completed the survey. IPV perpetration and victimization were highly correlated. Both were significantly associated with childhood maltreatment severity, early maladaptive schemata, dissociation, BPD features, and PTSD symptoms. When including all variables in one model, IPV was associated with dissociation, which indirectly linked it to childhood maltreatment experiences, PTSD symptoms, withdrawal, and self-blame. Our findings suggest that IPV perpetration and victimization often co-occur. Dissociation may be an important bridge symptom, linking IPV to childhood maltreatment experiences, PTSD symptoms, and maladaptive coping. Prospective studies are needed to corroborate these findings and to establish psychological mechanisms underlying IPV.
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Stappenbeck CA, Hammett JF, Grom JL, Halmos MB, Lee CM, Parrott DJ. The effects of alcohol and marijuana co-use patterns on intimate partner aggression perpetration. Addict Behav 2023; 143:107691. [PMID: 36996723 PMCID: PMC11057905 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol and marijuana are two of the most widely used substances in the U.S, with rates of alcohol and marijuana co-use increasing in recent years. Despite this increase, little is known about the effects of alcohol and marijuana co-use patterns (e.g., simultaneous, concurrent) on intimate partner aggression (IPA) perpetration. The purpose of the current study was to examine differences in IPA among simultaneous and concurrent alcohol and marijuana use groups and an alcohol-only group. Participants were 496 individuals (57% identifying as a woman) recruited nationally in April 2020 via Qualtrics Research Services who reported being in a current relationship and recently consuming alcohol. Individuals completed an online survey that included demographics, measures of COVID-19 stress, alcohol and marijuana use, and physical and psychological IPA perpetration. Based on survey responses, individuals were categorized as belonging to the alcohol use only group (n = 300), the concurrent alcohol and marijuana use group (n = 129), or the regular simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use group (n = 67). Due to inclusion criteria, there was no marijuana use only group. Individuals with regular simultaneous or concurrent alcohol and marijuana co-use reported more frequent physical and psychological IPA perpetration compared to those who only used alcohol. Neither physical nor psychological IPA perpetration frequency differed between individuals who reported regular simultaneous versus concurrent alcohol and marijuana co-use. Results suggest that alcohol and marijuana co-use in general, and not the specific pattern of use, is associated with an increased likelihood of IPA perpetration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia F Hammett
- Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ
| | - Jessica L Grom
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Miklós B Halmos
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Christine M Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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Gilchrist G, Potts LC, Connolly DJ, Winstock A, Barratt MJ, Ferris J, Gilchrist E, Davies E. Experience and perpetration of intimate partner violence and abuse by gender of respondent and their current partner before and during COVID-19 restrictions in 2020: a cross-sectional study in 13 countries. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:316. [PMID: 36782157 PMCID: PMC9924203 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14635-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intimate partner violence and abuse (IPVA) includes controlling behaviours, psychological, physical, sexual and financial abuse. Globally, surveys and emergency services have recorded an increase in IPVA since restrictions were imposed to limit COVID-19 transmission. Most studies have only included heterosexual women. METHODS Data from the Global Drug Survey (an annual, anonymous, online survey collecting data on drug use) Special Edition were analysed to explore the impact of COVID-19 on people's lives, including their intimate relationships. Five relationship groupings were created using respondents' lived gender identity: women partnered with men (46.9%), women partnered with women (2.1%), men partnered with men (2.9%), men partnered with women (47.2%), and partnerships where one or both partners were non-binary (1%). Self-reported experience and perpetration of IPVA in the past 30 days before (February) and during COVID-19 restrictions (May or June) in 2020 (N = 35,854) was described and compared for different relationship groupings using Fishers Exact Tests. Changes in IPVA during restrictions were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS During restrictions, 17.8 and 16.6% of respondents had experienced or perpetrated IPVA respectively; 38.2% of survivors and 37.6% of perpetrators reported this had increased during restrictions. Greater proportions of non-binary respondents or respondents with a non-binary partner reported experiencing or perpetrating IPVA (p < .001) than other relationship groupings. 22.0% of respondents who were non-binary or had a non-binary partner, 19.5% of men partnered with men, 18.9% of men partnered with women, 17.1% of women partnered with women and 16.6% of women partnered with men reported experiencing IPVA. Respondents with higher psychological distress, poor coping with pandemic-related changes, relationship tension and changes (increases or increases and decreases) in alcohol consumption reported increased experience of IPVA during restrictions. CONCLUSIONS This study confirmed that IPVA can occur in all intimate relationships, regardless of gender of the perpetrator or survivor. Non-binary respondents or respondents with non-binary partners reported the highest use and experience of IPVA. Most IPVA victim support services have been designed for heterosexual, cisgender women. IPVA support services and perpetrator programmes must be tailored to support all perpetrators and survivors during the pandemic and beyond, regardless of their sexual or gender identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gail Gilchrist
- National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Laura C. Potts
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Dean J. Connolly
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK ,grid.439471.c0000 0000 9151 4584Barts Health NHS Trust, Whipps Cross University Hospital, London, UK
| | - Adam Winstock
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK ,Global Drug Survey, London, UK
| | - Monica J. Barratt
- grid.1017.70000 0001 2163 3550Social and Global Studies Centre and Digital Ethnography Research Centre, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia ,grid.1005.40000 0004 4902 0432National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Randwick, Australia
| | - Jason Ferris
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Centre for Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Gilchrist
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988School of Health in Social Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Emma Davies
- grid.7628.b0000 0001 0726 8331Centre for Psychological Research, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
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Hu W, Sun M. COVID-19 Stressors and Aggression among Chinese College Students: The Mediation Role of Coping Strategies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3171. [PMID: 36833866 PMCID: PMC9968146 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Although college students experienced excessive stressors (COVID-19 disease and negative COVID-19 news) during the COVID-19 pandemic, few studies have been aimed at coping strategies used by college students to deal with stress caused by the pandemic. Coping strategies are efforts to deal with anxiety in the face of a perceived threat or stress. Aggression is harmful social interaction with the intention of inflicting damage or harm upon another individual. In the present study, we aimed to examine the direct effect of stressors resulting from the pandemic on college students' aggression, as well as the indirect effect via their coping strategies. Through a cross-sectional survey of 601 Chinese college students (M-age = 20.28), we tested the proposed framework. We first found that information stressors of COVID-19 ranked highest among the four stressors of the pandemic. Results also indicated that college students' stressors of COVID-19 were directly and positively associated with their aggressive behavior. For the indirect effect, college students would adopt both adaptive coping strategies (self-help strategy) and maladaptive coping strategies (avoidance strategy and self-punishment strategy) with the stressors of COVID-19. Furthermore, adaptive coping strategy (approach strategy) was negatively related to their aggression, whereas maladaptive coping strategy (avoidance strategy and self-punishment strategy) was positively related to their aggressive behavior. The present research extends the general strain theory in the COVID-19 context. Practical implications are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wencai Hu
- College of Humanities and Communication, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Mengru Sun
- College of Media and International Culture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Souma T, Komura K, Arai T, Shimada T, Kanemasa Y. Changes in Collective Efficacy's Preventive Effect on Intimate Partner Violence during the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12849. [PMID: 36232148 PMCID: PMC9566722 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Following the logic of studies showing that collective efficacy within neighborhoods deters intimate partner violence (IPV), the promotion of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic may have weakened that effect. To examine that possibility, we analyzed panel data from 318 adults in Japan regarding IPV victimization and perceived collective efficacy at four time points. A latent growth model (LGM) analysis for each measure revealed that informal social control, a subscale of collective efficacy, has declined since the pandemic began, whereas no significant changes have occurred in social cohesion and trust, another subscale of collective efficacy, and IPV victimization. Furthermore, two parallel LGM analyses revealed that although collective efficacy before the pandemic suppressed subsequent IPV victimization, changes in collective efficacy during the pandemic have been positively associated with changes in IPV. Those results suggest that collective efficacy's protective effect on IPV is moderated by whether interactions between intimate partners and their neighbors are socially normative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiko Souma
- Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 730-0053, Japan
| | - Kentaro Komura
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hirosaki University, Aomori 036-8560, Japan
| | - Takashi Arai
- Graduate School of Arts and Letters, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8576, Japan
| | - Takahito Shimada
- Department of Criminology and Behavioral Science, National Research Institute of Police Science, Chiba 277-0882, Japan
| | - Yuji Kanemasa
- Faculty of Psychology, Otemon Gakuin University, Osaka 567-8502, Japan
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Hammett JF, Halmos MB, Parrott DJ, Stappenbeck CA. COVID Stress, socioeconomic deprivation, and intimate partner aggression during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1666. [PMID: 36056310 PMCID: PMC9437411 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14093-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intimate partner aggression (IPA) is a prevalent public health concern that is associated with multiple negative consequences. Rates of IPA in the U.S. have increased since the onset of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, likely due to stress associated with the pandemic. Socioeconomic deprivation is associated with COVID-19 outcomes as well as IPA. However, whether socioeconomic deprivation interacts with COVID-19 stress in predicting IPA remains unclear. METHODS Using a sample of 510 individuals recruited via Qualtrics Research Services in April 2020, the present study tested whether socioeconomic deprivation moderates the association between COVID-19 stress and IPA perpetration and victimization. Participants completed a questionnaire battery that included measures of COVID-19 stressors and physical and psychological IPA perpetration and victimization. In addition, participants reported their residential zip codes, which were subsequently matched with scores on the Social Deprivation Index, a composite measure of seven demographic variables from the 5-year American Community Survey. RESULTS Sequential generalized linear models in Mplus Version 8.7 showed that the effects of COVID-19 stress on physical IPA perpetration and psychological IPA victimization can be best understood through its interactive effects with socioeconomic deprivation. Higher COVID-19 stress was associated with higher levels of physical IPA perpetration and psychological IPA victimization when socioeconomic deprivation was low but not when socioeconomic deprivation was high. Importantly, however, overall rates of IPA were higher among individuals with higher socioeconomic deprivation than among individuals with lower socioeconomic deprivation, regardless of the amount of COVID-19 stress they experienced. CONCLUSIONS The present analyses implicate COVID-19 stress as a critical correlate of IPA and show that the association between this stress and physical IPA perpetration and psychological IPA victimization may be particularly salient among individuals who live in areas of lower socioeconomic deprivation. Furthermore, our results clearly pinpoint the detrimental effects of socioeconomic deprivation more broadly, showing that individuals who live in more deprived areas tend to have high levels of IPA regardless of their level of COVID-19 stress. These findings call for public health policies at the community and societal level that target not only COVID-related stress but also the impacts of socioeconomic inequality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia F Hammett
- Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, 500 N. 3rdSt, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA.
| | - Miklós B Halmos
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Dominic J Parrott
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Jaffe AE, Graupensperger S, Blayney JA, Duckworth JC, Stappenbeck CA. The Role of Perceived Social Norms in College Student Vaccine Hesitancy: Implications for COVID-19 Prevention Strategies. Vaccine 2022; 40:1888-1895. [PMID: 35190209 PMCID: PMC8789646 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.01.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Among US adults, the highest rates of hesitancy to receive the COVID-19 vaccine are among young adults aged 18 to 25. Vaccine hesitancy is particularly concerning among young adults in college, where social interactions on densely populated campuses can lead to substantial community spread. Given that many colleges have opted not to mandate vaccines, identification of modifiable predictors of vaccine hesitancy – such as perceived social norms – is key to informing interventions to promote vaccine uptake. To address this need, we examined predictors of and explicit reasons for vaccine hesitancy among 989 students aged 18 to 25 recruited from four geographically diverse US universities in the spring of 2021. At the time of the survey, 57.3% had been vaccinated, 13.7% intended to be vaccinated as soon as possible, and 29.0% were vaccine hesitant. Common reasons for hesitancy were wanting to see how it affected others first (75.2%), not believing it was necessary (30.0%), and other reasons (17.4%), which were examined via content analysis and revealed prominent safety concerns. Despite these varied explicit reasons, logistic regressions revealed that, when controlling for demographics and pandemic-related experiences, perceived descriptive and injunctive social norms for vaccine uptake were each significant predictors of vaccine hesitancy (ORs = 0.35 and 0.78, respectively). When both norms were entered into the same model, only perceived descriptive norms uniquely predicted vaccine hesitancy (OR = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.29 – 0.46). Findings suggest perceived social norms are strongly associated with vaccine-related behavior among young adult college students. Correcting normative misperceptions may be a promising approach to increase vaccine uptake and slow the spread of COVID-19 among young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna E Jaffe
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States.
| | - Scott Graupensperger
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jessica A Blayney
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jennifer C Duckworth
- Department of Human Development, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
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