When staying home is unsafe: exploring the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on family violence in Hong Kong

Abstract

ABSTRACT Despite the well-documented COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on public health, it is crucial to acknowledge the broader societal costs of the pandemic and the resulting pandemic-related restrictions. In particular, this research highlights the impact of COVID-19 on two forms of crime: domestic violence and child abuse. This study aims to evaluate the prolonged effect of COVID-19 on arrests for domestic violence and child abuse in Hong Kong by employing a single-group interrupted time-series analysis of ten-year monthly arrest data obtained from the Hong Kong Police Review. Consistent with previous studies, this study found that there was no immediate effect of COVID-19 on arrests for domestic violence and child abuse, but there was subsequently an increasing trend of domestic violence and child abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. The increased trend of family violence during the COVID-19 pandemic may be explained by the accumulated strains and changes in routine activities associated with the pandemic and the anti-pandemic measures implemented by the government. Limitations and implications for future studies are discussed.