Intimate Partner Violence Among Adolescents in Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

GOAL To describe potentially preventable factors in intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and victimization among South African 8th grade students. METHOD Data were collected during a pilot evaluation of a classroom 8th grade curriculum on gender-based violence prevention in 9 public schools in Cape Town through self-completed interviews with 549 8th grade students, 238 boys and 311 girls. Structural equation models (SEM) predicting IPV were constructed with variables a priori hypothesized to be associated. RESULTS The majority of students (78.5%) had had a partner in the past three months, and they reported high rates of IPV during that period (e.g., over 10% of boys reported forcing a partner to have sex, and 39% of girls reported physical IPV victimization). A trimmed version of the hypothesized SEM (CFI =.966; RMSEA=.051) indicated that disagreement with the ideology of male superiority and violence predicted lower risk of IPV (p<.001), whereas the frequency of using negative conflict resolution styles (e.g., walking off angrily, sending angry text messages, or refusing to talk to them) predicted high IPV risk (p<.001) and mediated the impact of heavy alcohol drinking on IPV (Sobel test, z=3.16; p<.001). The model fit both girls and boys, but heavy drinking influenced negative styles of resolving conflict more strongly among girls than boys. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that interventions to reduce IPV among South African adolescents should challenge attitudes supportive of male superiority and violence; encourage use of positive conflict resolution styles; and discourage heavy alcohol use among both boys and girls.

Intimate partner violence in early adolescence: The role of gender, socioeconomic factors and the school

“…The prevalences of physical and sexual IPV perpetration and victimisation were higher among boys than among girls in our study, which is similar to rates reported for similar populations in SA [8] and for similar age groups in the USA, [4,13] but different to evidence from other SA studies, one of which asked about IPV victimisation in the previous 3 months [9] and one that asked about physical IPV only. [12] The victimisation prevalence for boys seems counterintuitive considering the high fatalities resulting from IPV for adult women in SA, [14] and its impact on health and wellbeing for women worldwide.…”

“…[4] Studies worldwide have shown that physical, psychological and sexual violence vary widely across countries and have been reported in 10 -50% of relationships for individuals aged up to 19 years, including in the USA, India, Nigeria, China, [5] the UK, [6,7] Tanzania [8] and South Africa (SA). [5,8,9] Most studies have reported that psychological violence is most common, followed by physical violence and then sexual violence. [10,11] Risk factors for perpetration and victimisation of IPV in adolescent relationships also vary between countries, and associations with higher age, [12] not being raised by a biological mother, [11] higher maternal education, [8] substance use, particularly alcohol, [9,11,13] previous maltreatment, violence in the home and aggressive peer networks, [10] especially at school, [13] and attitudes supportive of male superiority, [6,9] and for girls having an older partner, [8,10] have been reported.…”

“…[5,8,9] Most studies have reported that psychological violence is most common, followed by physical violence and then sexual violence. [10,11] Risk factors for perpetration and victimisation of IPV in adolescent relationships also vary between countries, and associations with higher age, [12] not being raised by a biological mother, [11] higher maternal education, [8] substance use, particularly alcohol, [9,11,13] previous maltreatment, violence in the home and aggressive peer networks, [10] especially at school, [13] and attitudes supportive of male superiority, [6,9] and for girls having an older partner, [8,10] have been reported. Protective factors include religion, [8] holding prosocial beliefs, [13] and parental monitoring for boys, and for girls with no family conflict.…”

“…[13] The evidence is equivocal for disadvantaged background [6][7][8]11,12] and gender, especially in this very young age group, with some studies saying that experiencing violence may be more common for males [8] and others for females. [6,9,12] The most severe consequences of IPV nevertheless show a clear gender difference, worldwide [1,2] and particularly in SA, which has the highest reported rate of intimate femicide in the world. [14] Although several studies have examined IPV among adolescents in SA, gender differences in perpetration and victimisation for young adolescents required further exploration.…”

Accidental burns in children under five years of age: The gendered burden of care and socio-economic deprivation

“…South Africa is a deeply patriarchal society, with one of the highest rates of IPV in the world. Research supports that alcohol abuse is an important precursor to IPV (Russel, Cupp, Jewkes et al, 2014). The women's statements were as follows:…”