Multilevel factors associated with perpetration of five types of intimate partner violence among men who have sex with men in China: an ecological model-informed study

ABSTRACT

In China, intimate partner violence (IPV) among men who have sex with men remains poorly investigated. Informed by the ecological model, this study explored multilevel factors associated with perpetration of IPV among men who have sex with men. The participants were recruited from 15 cities in mainland China. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses showed that the prevalence of committing physical, sexual, monitoring, controlling and emotional IPV was 8.6%, 7.1%, 15.2%, 7.6% and 17.1%, respectively. Committing physical IPV showed a positive association with perceived public discrimination and self-stigma towards homosexuality. Committing sexual IPV showed a positive association with involvement with a homosexual support agency and more sex partners. Monitoring IPV was positively associated with higher education and perceived stress, but negatively associated with instrumental and emotional support. Committing controlling IPV showed a positive association with drug use during sex and self-stigma but a negative association with self-esteem, self-efficacy and older age at first homosexual sex. Committing emotional IPV showed a positive association with commercial sex behaviour and perceived stress, but a negative association with resilience. Committing IPV was prevalent in this population. It is necessary to distinguish the various types of IPV in future studies, given their differences in associated factors.

KEYWORDS:

• Intimate partner violence
• perpetrators
• MSM
• risk/protective factors
• China

Acknowledgements

There are no known conflicts of interest in this publication. The final paper has been read and approved by all designated authors who have contributed to the development of this study. The authors would like to thank all participants and field staff for their support of data collection.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by China Medical Board: [grant number 18-301]; National Natural Science Foundation of China: [grant number 71774178,81803334]; Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province: [grant number 2017A030310561]; Science and Technology Research Project of Guangzhou: [grant number 201607010368]; Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province: [grant number 2017A020212006]; Major Infectious Disease Prevention and Control of the National Science and Technique Major Project: [grant number 2018ZX10715004].