Network analysis of intimate partner violence and depression-anxiety symptoms in Chinese transgender women.
10 affiliations
- 1Institute of Clinical Research, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1111, Xianxia Road, Shanghai, 200336, China.
- 2School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 227 South Chongqing Road, Shanghai, 200025, China.
- 3Department of Student Affairs, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 227, South Chongqing Road, Shanghai, 200025, China.
- 4Youth Science and Technology Innovation Studio, affiliated with Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1111 Xianxia Road, Shanghai, 200335, China.
- 5Institute of Clinical Research, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1111, Xianxia Road, Shanghai, 200336, China. [email protected].
- 6School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 227 South Chongqing Road, Shanghai, 200025, China. [email protected].
- 7Youth Science and Technology Innovation Studio, affiliated with Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1111 Xianxia Road, Shanghai, 200335, China. [email protected].
- 8Institute of Clinical Research, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1111, Xianxia Road, Shanghai, 200336, China. [email protected].
- 9School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 227 South Chongqing Road, Shanghai, 200025, China. [email protected].
- 10Youth Science and Technology Innovation Studio, affiliated with Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1111 Xianxia Road, Shanghai, 200335, China. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Chinese transgender women have a higher prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) compared to their cisgender counterparts. To mitigate the risk of IPV, it is crucial to comprehend the symptoms of emotional distress that are most closely associated with IPV. This network analysis investigated the item-level connections among depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and IPV among Chinese transgender women.Methods
Between February and December 2022, 264 adult transgender women in Shenyang, China, were recruited through snowball sampling with support from a community-based non-governmental organization. Data were collected using the Intimate Partner Violence Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7). The network structure of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and IPV was examined using "Expected Influence" and "Bridge Expected Influence" as measures of centrality. The stability of the network was assessed through a case-dropping bootstrap approach. A Network Comparison Test was conducted to examine whether network characteristics differed based on the presence or absence of IPV.Results
Among 264 participants, 221 (83.7%) reported having experienced IPV. The most central symptom was PHQ6 (guilt), followed by GAD2 (uncontrollable worry) and GAD1 (nervousness). The bridge symptoms linking the depression and anxiety communities were GAD2 (uncontrollable worry), PHQ9 (suicide), and GAD5 (restlessness). A flow network indicated that the strongest associations between IPV and depressive and anxiety symptoms were for GAD5 (restlessness) and PHQ2 (sad mood). Network Comparison Test revealed no significant differences in global strength or structure between the IPV and non-IPV groups.Conclusions
Findings highlight specific depressive and anxiety symptoms as key correlates of IPV among Chinese transgender women. These central and bridge symptoms offer hypothesis-generating entry points for future longitudinal research and may inform the development of targeted interventions; however, the cross-sectional design precludes causal or directional conclusions.
Related
- Physical intimate partner violence during pregnancy and maternal social context in relation to postpartum depressive symptoms in the United States
- Perceived Neighborhood Disorder, Social Vulnerability, and Intimate Partner Violence Among Adults over 60
- Psychometric analysis of an intersectional stigma scale for women who have experienced intimate partner violence in Botswana
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- Within-country ethnic disparities in intimate partner violence against women and associated factors across 37 low- and middle-income countries
BibTeX
@article{xu2026network,
title = {{Network analysis of intimate partner violence and depression-anxiety symptoms in Chinese transgender women.}},
author = {Lulu Xu and Yawen Zheng and Fengyi Wang and Jiani Hu and Fang Wang and Ying Wang and Yong Cai},
journal = {BMC public health},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12889-026-28745-8},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42907817},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Network analysis of intimate partner violence and depression-anxiety symptoms in Chinese transgender women.
AU - Lulu Xu
AU - Yawen Zheng
AU - Fengyi Wang
AU - Jiani Hu
AU - Fang Wang
AU - Ying Wang
AU - Yong Cai
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - BMC public health
DO - 10.1186/s12889-026-28745-8
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42907817
AB - Background Chinese transgender women have a higher prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) compared to their cisgender counterparts. To mitigate the risk of IPV, it is crucial to comprehend the symptoms of emotional distress that are most closely associated with IPV. This network analysis investigated the item-level connections among depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and IPV among Chinese transgender women.Methods Between February and December 2022, 264 adult transgender women in Shenyang, China, were recruited through snowball sampling with support from a community-based non-governmental organization. Data were collected using the Intimate Partner Violence Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7). The network structure of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and IPV was examined using "Expected Influence" and "Bridge Expected Influence" as measures of centrality. The stability of the network was assessed through a case-dropping bootstrap approach. A Network Comparison Test was conducted to examine whether network characteristics differed based on the presence or absence of IPV.Results Among 264 participants, 221 (83.7%) reported having experienced IPV. The most central symptom was PHQ6 (guilt), followed by GAD2 (uncontrollable worry) and GAD1 (nervousness). The bridge symptoms linking the depression and anxiety communities were GAD2 (uncontrollable worry), PHQ9 (suicide), and GAD5 (restlessness). A flow network indicated that the strongest associations between IPV and depressive and anxiety symptoms were for GAD5 (restlessness) and PHQ2 (sad mood). Network Comparison Test revealed no significant differences in global strength or structure between the IPV and non-IPV groups.Conclusions Findings highlight specific depressive and anxiety symptoms as key correlates of IPV among Chinese transgender women. These central and bridge symptoms offer hypothesis-generating entry points for future longitudinal research and may inform the development of targeted interventions; however, the cross-sectional design precludes causal or directional conclusions.
SN - 1471-2458
ER -