Association of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Digital Media Use with Violence Against Women: A Comparative Study of Emerging Young Adults In South Korea and the United States

Background: Gender stereotypes and acceptance of rape myths are well-established predictors of intimate partner violence. Recent studies highlight the role of the internet and social media use in reinforcing traditional gender norms among adolescents and young adults. This is particularly concerning given younger generations’ heavy reliance on digital media for socialization and leisure. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been reported to be a strong predictor of problematic digital media use. This study examines the associations among ACEs, digital media use, and rape myth acceptance by comparing emerging young adults in South Korea and the U.S.

Method: This study recruited college students aged 18 to 25 from randomly selected courses at colleges in the Midwestern U.S. and in Seoul, South Korea. Data were collected via an online survey. The U.S. sample (N=375) was predominantly White (83.1%) and 71% female, while the Korean sample (N=234) was entirely Korean, with 43.5% female participants. Measures included the Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale (15-items, α = 0.90), the Attitudes Toward Women Scale (AWS) (15-items, α = 0.85), and the CDC ACE checklist (10-items, α = 0.76). Additional variables included age at first obtaining a digital device, the frequency of digital media use, gender, and race/ethnicity. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted. The mean age of participants was 20.9 years (sd = 1.9).

Results: The average age of first obtaining a digital device was 11.44 years (sd = 1.85), with Korean participants acquiring a device at a significantly younger age than their American counterparts (t = 3.01, df = 606, p < .01). American young adults reported significantly higher levels of ACEs and higher level of digital media use and addiction than their Korean counterparts (t = 6.76, df = 554, p < .001; t = -4.91, df = 432, p < .001). In contrast, Korean participants reported higher levels of rape myth acceptance and more traditional gender norms (t = -6.61, df = 343, p < .001). Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that digital media addiction was associated with AWS among Korean young adults, whereas ACEs was significantly associated with AWS among American young adults. Specifically, among Korean participants, greater digital media use was associated with less egalitarian gender norms (b = -0.15, p < .05), while among American participants, higher ACEs were associated with more egalitarian gender norms (b=0.17, p < .01).

Conclusion: Differences in the key factors influencing AWS between the two countries have significant implications. American children and adolescents report significantly higher levels of ACEs than their Korean counterparts, and these adverse experiences are associated with more egalitarian gender norms. In contrast, although Korean children and adolescents report fewer ACEs, their heavier use of digital media appears to reinforce more traditional gender norms. These findings suggest that prevention efforts targeting ACEs are particularly needed in the United States, whereas interventions addressing digital media use may be more critical in South Korea. Further research is warranted to better understand the roles of digital media use and ACEs in shaping gender norms.