Abstract Aim The aim of this study is to examine the incidence and risk factors for intimate partner violence (IPV) among patients with gynaecological cancer. Design A cross‐sectional study design was employed. Methods Patients with gynaecological cancer were recruited from a tertiary hospital in Shandong, China. Eligible patients completed a survey including questions regarding their demographic and cancer‐related characteristics, IPV experience and dyadic coping. Results A total of 429 patients were surveyed, 31% of them reported previous experiences with IPV, and negotiation was the most common type reported. The following variables were associated with IPV: a husband, wife and child/children family structure; a husband, wife, child/children and parent‐in‐law family structure; an annual household income ≥¥50,000 ($7207); and a similar or greater income earned by the patient than by her partner. Patient or Public Contribution IPV in patients with gynaecological cancer is investigated in this study.