Social Isolation and Spousal Violence: Comparing Female Marriage Migrants With Local Women

Susanne Yuk-ping Choi, Y. W. Cheung, Adam K. L. Cheung

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

68 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This research examined the impact of network participation, social support, and social control on the violence victimization of female marriage migrants by a spouse. Data were from a household survey of 492 cross-border and 379 local married couples in Hong Kong in 2007. The findings indicated that female marriage migrants were more vulnerable to spousal violence and more socially isolated, compared with local women. Husbands of marriage migrants were also more socially isolated compared with men who married locally. The network participation of both husband and wife was associated positively with spousal violence against women, whereas their perceived social control was associated negatively with violence. Female marriage migrants' greater vulnerability to spousal physical assault was a result of their younger age compared with local women, but their greater vulnerability to spousal psychological aggression and sexual coercion was related, in part, to their own and their husbands' network participation as well as their level of social control.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)444-461
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Marriage and Family
Volume74
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2012
Externally publishedYes

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Sociology and Political Science

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