Hot and humid weather and online expression of domestic violence in China

This study examines the impact of compound humid heat on online expression of domestic violence in China. Using geo-tagged Sina Weibo social media post data for 347 cities over 2018–2020, the findings indicate a marked effect on days with a maximum wet-bulb temperature above 27°C. The total volume of social media activity is controlled for. Female economic empowerment amplifies the effect among cities, while political and cultural empowerment tends to reduce it. Mechanism analyses suggest that high wet-bulb temperatures induce significant increases in depression- and anxiety-related sentiment being expressed online on these days, as well as reduced outdoor mobility. The findings provide evidence on gendered aspects of climate change impacts.