Financial self-efficacy and money separation protect Chinese women against imbalanced marital power and controlling behaviors

Abstract

Objective: To investigate how family financial arrangements and financial self-efficacy work together in the associations with power dynamics and controlling behaviors against Chinese women. Background: Controlling behaviors, a covert form of intimate partner violence (IPV), are underexplored in China. Manifesting as economic abuse, love withdrawal, and social sabotage, these behaviors have profound implications for women's well-being. This study is among the first to investigate the factors associated with controlling behaviors against Chinese women. Methods: A survey was conducted among 882 Chinese women with male partners, using validated measures for family financial arrangements, financial self-efficacy, power (im)balance, and controlling behaviors. Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the data. Results: Imbalanced power was significantly associated with increased economic abuse, love withdrawal, and social sabotage. Male-managed pooling arrangements—two partners pooled all money together, with males managing all this money—heightened women's vulnerability to power loss and, in turn, controlling behaviors. Yet, full or partial financial separation reduced risk. Comanaged pooling—two partners pooled all money together, and both managed all this money—only benefited women with high financial self-efficacy. Conclusion: The family financial arrangements and financial self-efficacy interplay to shape power and IPV dynamics in China. Implications: Promoting comanaged pooling and empowering women through financial education are essential for enhancing relationship equity and addressing covert IPV.