Psychological abuse 'on rise'

Domestic abuse is on the increase in China, and its form is becoming increasingly psychological rather than physical, a women's counselor said yesterday.

Hou Zhiming, director of the Maple Women's Psychological Counseling Center, a nonprofit organization based in Beijing, told China Daily that "cold violence" is a growing problem among spouses and cohabiting partners.

"Cold violence is psychological, rather than physical, abuse and can involve such things as verbal attacks, disregarding a partner's views, or imposing economic controls on them," she said.