Front Psychol. 2025 Nov 14;16:1658974. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1658974. eCollection 2025.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Family and domestic violence (FDV) is closely related to suicidal and self-harm ideation (SSI), but the research in this regard is insufficient in China.
METHODS: Based on the data from the 2022 Psychology and Behavior Investigation of Chinese Residents, this study used the Generalized Structural Equation Modeling (GSEM) to focus on examining three key aspects: (1) the prevalence of Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) and Suicidal and Self-Harm Ideation (SSI) among the Chinese population; (2) the impact of FDV on SSI, as well as the sequential mediating pathway formed through sleep disturbance and anxiety; (3) the differences in the aforementioned associations across gender and age dimensions.
RESULTS: The research findings indicate that approximately 44% of the participants have experienced FDV, and 25% of the participants have SSI. FDV significantly increases the risk of SSI (1.267, p < 0.001). Anxiety mediated the association between FDV and SSI, while sleep disturbance intensified this indirect pathway by increasing anxiety, which in turn elevated SSI risk. By comparing different age groups, it is found that adolescents and the elderly are at a higher risk of developing SSI due to FDV. Gender-specific analysis shows that controlling violence has a significant impact on women, while insulting violence has a stronger impact on men.
DISCUSSION: Based on nationwide residents’ psychological survey data, this study identified the high prevalence of FDV and SSI among the Chinese population as well as their significant association. It also verified the sequential mediating mechanism of sleep disturbance and anxiety between the two, providing new evidence for understanding the harmful pathway of FDV on mental health. Meanwhile, the gender and age differences found in the study suggest that subsequent interventions need to develop targeted strategies based on population characteristics.
PMID:41323924 | PMC:PMC12661117 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1658974
