Child Marriage in the United States and Its Association With Mental Health in Women

Abstract

WHAT'S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT:The prevalence of child marriage (marriage at Ͻ18 years of age) in Western countries is considered to be low. Although child marriage has a devastating impact on health, no study has yet evaluated the impact of child marriage on mental health. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS:The prevalence of child marriage among women in the United States was 8.9%. Child marriage was associated with higher rates of lifetime and 12-month psychiatric disorders. In addition, women who married as children were more likely to seek health services. abstract OBJECTIVE: Despite the devastating impact of child marriage (marriage before the age of 18 years) on health, no study has yet evaluated its impact on mental health in the general adult population. This article presents nationally representative data on the prevalence, sociodemographic correlates, and psychiatric comorbidity of child marriage among women in the United States. METHODS:Data were drawn from the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. We limited our analyses to the sample of women (N ϭ 24 575) with a known age at first marriage, of whom 18 645 had been or were presently married. RESULTS:The prevalence of child marriage among women was 8.9%. Demographic factors associated with child marriage were black and American Indian/Alaska Native ethnicities, age at interview of Ͼ45 years, low educational level, low income, and living in the South and rural areas of the United States. The overall lifetime and 12-month rates of psychiatric disorders were higher for women who married as children, compared with women who married as adults. In addition, women who married as children were more likely to seek and access health services, compared with women who married in adulthood. CONCLUSIONS:Child marriage increases the risk of lifetime and current psychiatric disorders in the United States. Support for psychiatric vulnerabilities among women married in childhood is required.

Factors Responsible for Early and Forced Marriage in Iran

“…Results of studies have confirmed that because girls do not mature physically at an early age, married people can get the physical problems and mood disorders depression anxiety disorders and obsessive and make dismay [5]. Iron and calcium deficiency is very common in girls under 18 years of age and pregnancy on the risk of osteoporosis and anaemia in them increases [6,7].…”

Economic Impacts of Child Marriage: A Review of the Literature

“…In reality, protection from violence is not guaranteed, and physical and sexual violence is often experienced at the hands of the husband once the marriage has occurred (Plan UK 2011). Child brides also suffer emotional violence in their homes and experience severe isolation and depression as a result of early marriage (Le Strat, Dubertret, & Le Foll 2011;Nour 2009). Indeed, girls who are married early are at a higher risk of experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) than girls married after age 18 (Clark, Bruce, & Dude 2006).…”

Psychiatric Disorders and Socio-demographic Characteristics in Children Intended to Get Married at a Young Age

“…Küçük yaþta yapýlan evliliklerde kadýnlarda ruhsal hastalýk ve psikiyatrik destek arama oranýnýn yetiþkin yaþta evlenen kadýnlara göre daha fazla oranda görüldüðü belirtilmiþtir (9). Ülkemizde erken yaþta evlenen kýzlarla yapýlan çalýþmada da bu çocuklarýn %45.8'inde en az bir psikiyatrik bozukluk olduðu gösterilmiþtir (3).…”

“…Erken yaþta evlenen bu çocuklarda psikiyatrik bozukluk oranlarýnýn yüksek olduðu gösterilmiþ (9) ve çocuk evliliklerinin ergenlerde artmýþ intihar riski ile iliþkili olduðu belirtilmiþtir (24). Ülkemizde erken evlendirilen çocuklarla yapýlan çalýþmalarda ruhsal bozukluk oranlarý %45.8 ve %46.2 olduðu belirtilmiþtir (3,25).…”