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

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.

Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health: Deepening Our Understanding of Associations, Pathways, and Prevention in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

“…This Special Issue also widens the lens on the ways in which we think about the impacts of IPV on wellbeing. The studies included employ traditional measures of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicide ideation [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ], but also examine broader psychosocial impacts such as alcohol and drug use, capacity to cope, and resilience [ 18 , 27 , 29 , 30 , 31 ].…”

“…Second, the included analyses elucidate how certain attitudes or behaviors might serve to strengthen or otherwise modify the link between IPV and mental health, and how these interactions may vary by context. For example, while a study from Northern Uganda found that gender equitable attitudes mitigated the relationship between IPV victimization and mental illness [ 29 ], analyses from Nigeria revealed that survivors of IPV who believed IPV was acceptable in some situations exhibited lower mental distress [ 26 ]. Third, this Special Issue offers actionable guidance for practitioners by evaluating promising intervention approaches [ 30 , 34 ], reviewing the evidence on what works to prevent IPV and subsequent psychological distress [ 35 , 36 ], and highlighting determinants for the successful implementation of integrated interventions that address IPV and mental health in tandem [ 37 ].…”

Suicidal ideation and behavior in youth in low- and middle-income countries: A brief review of risk factors and implications for prevention

“…Indeed, young women in LMICs are particularly vulnerable to the experience of interpersonal violence. Population-based studies in LMICs have shown that adolescents and young women who ever experienced emotional, physical, or sexual violence by a caregiver or an intimate partner were 1.4-9.18 times more likely to report lifetime suicidal thoughts, and 3.8 times more likely to ever attempt suicide (63)(64)(65). The prevalence of suicidal ideation among female victims of intimate partner violence ranges from 28% in the Philippines, 48% in Brazil, and over 60% in Egypt and India (65).…”

Relationship Between Violence Against Women, Social Support, Self-Esteem, and Mental Health in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

“…The pooled estimated prevalence of any type of VAW in Arab countries was reported to be 73% (Hawcroft et al, 2019). Prevalence estimation may not be accurate due to societal acceptance, attitude, and justification for violence, whereas this attitude is lower in North America compared with sub-Saharan Africa (Ibala et al, 2021; Schwab-Reese & Renner, 2017). The lifetime prevalence in Saudi Arabia for VAW is around 40%, which is slightly higher than the global prevalence (Abolfotouh & Almuneef, 2020).…”