Violence against Women and the Substitution of Help Services in Times of Lockdown: Triangulation of Three Data Sources in Germany

Cara Ebert () and Janina Isabel Steinert ()
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Cara Ebert: RWI
Janina Isabel Steinert: Technical University of Munich

No 16793, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

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 29% with the first physical distancing measures, whereas ambulatory care services such as shelters experienced a 19% 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 daycare capacity for childcare or higher COVID-19 infection numbers. Our findings highlight the importance of providing easily accessible online counselling offers for survivors of violence and governmental financial relief packages.

Keywords: violence against women; lockdown; COVID-19; event study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I18 J12 J16 J18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 47 pages
Date: 2024-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea
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Published - published in: Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2025, 232, 106879

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