Cambodian Remarried Women Are at Risk for Domestic Violence

Abstract

Divorce rates continue to rise, especially in urban centers, which in turn contributes to increasing numbers of women who remarry. While remarriage is one of the only options for survival for divorced women, especially those from low socioeconomic status, remarriage also brings with it increased stressors of financial strain and the strain of blended families. This study tested the hypothesis that remarried women compared with first-time married and divorced women are at increased risk for domestic violence. The sample was drawn from the Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey, consisting of 1,560 women with the average age of 31.64. Results showed that 20% of women reported emotional violence and 14%, physical violence. Based on hierarchical multiple regressions, this study found that remarried women were more likely to experience physical and emotional abuse than women in their first marriage or women who remain divorced/not in union. Further interaction analyses showed that domestic violence varies depending on place of residence, number of children younger than 5 years, partners' education, and wealth index. Rural residents who were in poorest and poorer groups and urban residents in their poorer and middle groups of their wealth index showed high risk of domestic violence. Remarried women with two or three children younger than 5 years showed highest risk of domestic violence. Additional three-way interaction analysis revealed that remarried women residing in rural/urban areas with a spouse having no education and/or primary level of education were at highest risk of domestic violence. The study lends support to the structural role of the power of male dominance on women's social and emotional well-being. This study suggested that to reduce men's perceived domination, structural intervention that includes implementing gender-responsive curriculum in formal education, as well as strengthening domestic violence law enforcement would help reduce domestic violence against women.

Exploring Contextual Trauma in Cambodia: A Sociointerpersonal Perspective on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

“…Recent scholars have identified only slight increases in divorce rates in Cambodia over time and across cohorts, since before the KR regime through cohorts married by 1999 (Hueveline & Poch, ), and a higher risk for intimate partner violence in remarriages in Cambodia (Eng, Szmodis, & Grace, ). To extend the sociointerpersonal perspective of PTSD, a question to address, aside from whether individuals are married, is their relationship quality and the support they have received from their intimate relationships.…”

Old Bonds, New Ties: Contextualizing Family Transitions in Re-partnerships, Remarriage and Stepfamilies in Asia

“…Attention to remarriage and stepfamily formation in Asian societies has been sporadic and limited to specific contexts such as East Asia (see Hu & To, 2018; Kim, 2010; Lam-Chan, 1999; Nozawa, 2015; Tai, Wan et al, 2008; Webber, 2003) attributed to the invisibility of and stigma against family structures that are not first marriage, nuclear family units in Asian societies (Neo, 2006; Nozawa, 2015; Webber, 2003). Constructions of moral panic around non-biological relationships within stepfamilies have prompted from time to time alarmist reports of abuse that relegate such family units as problems or deficits with a less than ideal milieu for raising children from previous unions (Eng et al, 2017). Yet, in other instances, re-partnerships and remarriages are sought as a pragmatic option to overcome dire economic conditions and family instability, and reintegrating into mainstream society (Dewilde & Uunk, 2008; Faroo, 2012b; Ozawa & Yoon, 2002).…”

Because She Has a Younger Husband: Critically Examining the Facebookers’ Comments Responding to Domestic Violence against a Famous Cambodian Actress

“…The analysis [37] using the 2005 demographic and health survey has revealed that 20% of remarried women experienced emotional violence and 14% experienced physical violence. These women were more likely to experience emotional and physical violence in their second marriage [37].…”