Physical Violence Reported by Han and Korean Chinese School Children (II): Cross-Cultural Comparison of Risk Factors

Kim, Daeho; Kim, Kwang Iel; Park, Yong Chon; Zhe, Li Guang

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The prevalence of child physical violence may differ between cultures. However, it is poorly understood why differences exist. Authors' previous study (Kim et al. 2005) confirmed different prevalence of physical violence existed in Han and Korean Chinese children. This study further investigated the cross-cultural differences in risk factors for violence and its possible linkage with different prevalence between ethnic groups.
METHODS
Datas contain responses from 1158 Han and 1145 Korean Chinese children in fourth to sixth grade (aged 10 to 12) from eight ethnic elementary schools in Yanji city of North Eastern China. Demographic variables and attitude toward corporal punishment were compared between violenced and non-violenced children in each ethnic group. Significant variables from bivariate analyis were further used for binary logistic regression analysis to identify best fitting model of risk factors in each group.Additionally risk factors for types of violence (i.e., family violence, peer violence, and violence by teachers) were also examined.
RESULTS
Identified common risk factors were boys and younger children. Results form the Han group also revealed single or absent parents, having siblings, and approval of corporal punishment as additional risk factors, while Korean Chinese group included poor economic state. Most consistent and salient risk facor for each type of violence was the experience of other types of violence.
CONCLUSION
Current findings are consistent with previously indentified risk factors in the literature. Basically, two ethnic groups had a very similar pattern of risk factors. However, minor differences did exist in additional factors. This may suggest that culturally different mediating factors are responsible for cross-cultural difference in prevalence of child violence.