Children’s experience of violence in China and Korea: a transcultural study

Objective: There were two aims: First, to compare children’s rates of being battered in home, by peers, and by teachers among students between China and Korea, and second, to identify particular risk factors for such violence. Methods: Children in grades four through six in Shanghai (238 cases) and Yanji (245 cases) in China and Seoul (248 cases) and Kimpo (241 cases) in Korea were surveyed by questionnaire method. They were asked to complete the Straus’ Conflict Tactics Scale and their frequencies in the three situations respectively, and other demographic items. Results: Family violence during the last 1 year was experienced in 70.6% (minor 42.2%; serious 22.6%) of the children in China and 68.9% (minor 9.4%; serious 51.3%) of those in Korea. Experience rates of violence by peers were 42.7% (minor 25.7%; serious 13.7%) in China and 26.0% (minor 11.5%; serious 14.3%) in Korea. Finally, rates of corporal punishment by teachers were 51.1% (minor 28.0%; serious 4.1%) in China and 62.0% (minor 8.8%; serious 43.8%) in Korea. The most important and common risk factor for violence in one situation was the presence of violence in another situation. Conclusions: The findings indicate that the differences in children’s overall experience rates were not particularly striking. However, Korean children experienced more severe forms of violence from family members and from teachers. Findings of risk factors clearly imply that there are children vulnerable to violence from multiple sources. Objectif: L’étude avait deux objectifs: de comparer chez des étudiants chinois et koréens, les taux de violence physique perpétrée au foyer, par leurs pairs et par les enseignants; et d’identifier les facteurs de risques particuliers. Méthode: On a administré une questionnaire à des enfants qui étaient dans la 4ème année de leurs études primaires: en Chine, 238 cas à Shanghai et 245 cas à Yanji; en Korée, 248 cas à Séoule et 241 cas à Kimpo. On s’est servi du Straus Conflict Tactics Scale pour connaı̂tre la fréquence des mauvais traitements dans les trois circonstances. D’autres renseignements démorgraphiques ont été recueillis. Résultats: Durant l’année précédent l’étude, 70,6% des enfants chinois ont été victimes de violence familiale (violence grave, 22,6%; moins grave, 42,2%) alors que le taux pour les enfants koréens était de 68,9% (violence grave, 51,3%; violence moins grave, 9,4%). Lorsqu’il s’agit d’agressions par leurs pairs, on note que 42,7% des enfants chinois (violence g