Concerns about Household Violence during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology
• Criminology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic heightened risk factors for household violence globally.
• Data on the pandemic's specific impact on Canadian household violence remains mixed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine changes in the prevalence of concern about household violence in Canada during the pandemic.
• To identify characteristics of individuals concerned about violence and specific household members affected.
• To inform policy and programs for vulnerable populations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2020 Canadian Perspective Survey Series.
• Analyzed data from the 2020 and 2021 Surveys of COVID-19 and Mental Health.
• Examined trends in concern prevalence and associated demographic factors.

Main Results:

• Overall concern about household violence decreased from July to Fall 2020 (5.8% to 4.2%).
• Among women, larger household size and lower income correlated with higher concern; lower education correlated with lower concern.
• Among men, immigrant status, larger household size, and lower income correlated with higher concern.
• From Fall 2020 to Spring 2021, concerns for self and children increased, while concerns for other adults decreased.

Conclusions:

• Despite an initial decrease, concerns for self and children rose during the pandemic.
• Specific demographics, including women, immigrants, and lower-income households, faced heightened risks.
• Continuous monitoring is crucial for addressing household violence and supporting vulnerable groups.