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Violence against women and the substitution of help services in times of lockdown: Triangulation of three data sources in Germany

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  • Ebert, Cara
  • Steinert, Janina Isabel

Abstract

We study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic violence against women in Germany in 2020. The analysis draws on three data sources: (1) longitudinal administrative data on the volume of help requests to helplines, shelters and counselling services, (2) cross-sectional survey data collected during the first wave of the pandemic, and (3) a qualitative online survey with counsellors and domestic violence experts. The number of violence-related requests at helplines increased significantly by 34% with the first physical distancing measures, whereas ambulatory care services such as shelters experienced a 14% increase in help requests only after physical distancing restrictions were lifted. Our results indicate that individuals substituted help services away from ambulatory care towards helplines. We do not observe exacerbated violence in states with greater mobility reductions, lower day care capacity for childcare or higher COVID-19 infection numbers. Yet, our cross-sectional household-level data suggests that home quarantine and financial distress may have been triggers of violence. Our findings highlight the importance of providing easily accessible online counselling offers for survivors of violence and governmental financial relief packages.

Suggested Citation

  • Ebert, Cara & Steinert, Janina Isabel, 2025. "Violence against women and the substitution of help services in times of lockdown: Triangulation of three data sources in Germany," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:232:y:2025:i:c:s0167268124004931
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2024.106879
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; Lockdown; Violence against women;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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