Attitudinal Acceptance of Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health Outcomes for Female Survivors in Sub-Saharan Africa

Reine-Marcelle Ibala, Ilana Seff and Lindsay Stark
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Reine-Marcelle Ibala: Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
Ilana Seff: George Warren Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, Campus Box 1196, 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
Lindsay Stark: George Warren Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, Campus Box 1196, 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 10, 1-8

Abstract: While current literature evidences a strong association between gender-based violence exposure and adverse mental health outcomes, few studies have explored how attitudinal acceptance of intimate partner violence (IPV) might impact this relationship. This analysis employed data from 13–24-year-old females as part of the Violence Against Children Surveys in Nigeria, Uganda, and Malawi. Mental health status, defined by the Kessler Screening Scale for Psychological Distress, and suicide ideation served as outcome measures. Predictors of interest included lifetime experiences of IPV and attitudinal acceptance of IPV. Country-stratified logistic and ordinary least squares regressions were used to predict outcomes and included interactions between violence exposure and attitudinal acceptance of IPV. Violence exposure was associated with increased symptoms of mental distress and increased suicide ideation in all countries. Among those who experienced IPV, exhibiting attitudinal acceptance of IPV was associated with improved mental health in Nigeria and Malawi. IPV tolerance conferred lower odds of suicide ideation following IPV exposure in Nigeria. The findings suggest that programs aiming to reduce attitudinal acceptance of IPV must consider how these changes may interact with women’s exposure to IPV.

Keywords: mental health; sub-Saharan Africa; intimate partner violence; attitudes; suicide ideation; adolescents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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