[Analysis on the incidence and influencing factors of psychological violence among college students in Guangzhou in 2010].

OBJECTIVE

To study the incidence and influencing factors of psychological violence among college students in Guangzhou in 2010.

METHODS

Convenience sampling method was used and 2 200 college students from 61 classes of three universities in Guangzhou were interviewed with self-designed questionnaire about the incidence and influencing factors of the psychological violence in 2010. The valid sample was 2 060. Chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression were used to assess the incidence and influencing factors of the psychological violence between different genders.

RESULTS

A total of 66.3% (1 365/2 060) college students reported having experienced at least one kind of psychological violence during the past 12 months, either as a perpetrator or as a victim. The proportion of psychological violence among males (72.3%, 775/1 072) was significantly higher than that in females (59.7%, 590/988)(χ(2) = 36.39, P < 0.05). The incidence of perpetration only, victimization only, and both perpetration and victimization of psychological violence were 16.1% (331/2 060), 8.9% (184/2 060) and 41.3% (850/2 060), respectively. The incidence of victimization only in females was 10.4% (103/988), which was significantly higher than that in males (7.6%, 81/1 072) (χ(2) = 5.20, P < 0.05). The incidence of both perpetration and victimization in males was 47.3% (507/1 072), which was significantly higher than that in females (34.7%, 343/988) (χ(2) = 33.56, P < 0.05). In males, the multinomial logistic regression showed the risk factors for perpetration only was having harmful behavior habits (OR = 1.90). For victimization only, the risk factors were with siblings (OR = 2.42) and prior mistreatment by teachers from primary to senior high school (OR = 1.78). For both perpetration and victimization, the risk factors were with siblings (OR = 1.88), having harmful behavior habits (OR = 1.98), bad family economic conditions (difficult OR = 1.99, general OR = 1.67) and prior mistreatment by teachers from primary to senior high school(OR = 2.07). In females, the risk factors for perpetration only were self-claimed shortage of monthly living expenses(OR = 2.14) or just enough (OR = 2.26), having harmful behavior habits (OR = 1.69) (all P values<0.05) . For victimization only, the risk factors were bad family economic conditions (difficult OR = 6.67, 15 persons; general OR = 3.81), bullied by others before university(OR = 2.05). For both perpetration and victimization, the risk factors were self-claimed shortage of monthly living expenses (OR = 1.81), bad family economic conditions (OR = 2.43), disharmonious relations between parents (OR = 1.76), physical punishment by parents (OR = 1.66), bullied by others before university (OR = 2.14) and prior mistreatment by teachers from primary to senior high school(OR = 1.73). Having a religious faith was the protective factor (OR = 0.38) (all P values<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of psychological violence among college students is very serious in Guangzhou in 2010. And the influencing factors of it between different genders are different. Females are affected by a wider ranges of factors than males, and are more influenced by family and parents.