Individual and National Level Associations Between Economic Deprivation and Partner Violence Among College Students in 31 National Settings

Abstract

This study expands previous work by examining individual and national level effects of economic deprivation on partner violence among college students. Three main hypotheses were tested: (1) individual level economic deprivation (i.e., ability to meet daily needs and family income) is associated with partner violence, (2) gross national income is associated with the mean rates of partner violence across nations, and (3) the association between individual level economic deprivation and partner violence varies according to the economic national context as measured by gross national income. Data for 14,090 participants from 31 nations came from the International Dating Violence Study that queried university students about violence in their relationships and relevant risk factors. A series of overdispersed Poisson hierarchical linear regression models were specified to test the hypotheses. Ability to meet daily needs, but not family income, was associated with rates of partner violence. Gross national income was also associated with mean rates of partner violence across nations as well as the relationships between ability to meet daily and partner violence and between family income and partner violence. The findings show the importance of context, as indicated by national economic standing, on rates of partner violence. Not only do economically deprived individuals experience more partner violence, but those living in poorer nations experience more partner violence, regardless of individual economic deprivation. Limitations of the study include a non-random sample and substantial variation in the study sites beyond economic standing. Nonetheless, findings indicate efforts to confront partner violence must also call for cross-national economic development.

Risk factors associated with high prevalence of intimate partner violence amongst school-going young women (aged 15–24years) in Maputo, Mozambique

“…These findings were consistent with those of a previous study evaluating the multisectoral response of gender-based violence (GBV) in Mozambique, which revealed that young women justified that a man has a right to have sex and that women should satisfy men at any time [23]. Such views are also consistent with studies done in similar settings [13,20,48,53,54]. Similarly, social norms of male dominance and the risk of IPV against women were also described in recent studies from Bangladesh [10], Vietnam [9] and Nepal [8].…”

“…Consistency regarding the association between the sociocultural factors and the risk of IPV has also been reported from SSA and elsewhere [41,54] and in studies conducted in different countries in low-middle income countries, where empowered women were less likely to report IPV [20].…”

Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and Associated Factors among Male and Female University Students in 22 Countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas

“…When designing strategies to prevent IPV protective factors such as improving life satisfaction, overall subjective health, social support and increasing perceived control may be important to incorporate. In agreement with a previous multicountry study 37 lower Gross national income, but not family income among women was associated with IPV.…”

Evidence of sociocultural factors influencing intimate partner violence among young women in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review

“…Whereas in a study conducted in South Africa and Tanzania, reports of economic deprivation, individual level of poverty, inability to meet daily needs and living in nations with lower gross national income were predictive factors for IPV. Thus, the study’s findings suggest that young women who were economically dependent or lacked sources of survival and were not owning a place to live were more likely to remain in a relationship with violence, since their partners were their main financial and subsistence source 17. A study conducted in a rural setting of Kenya reported that poverty and dependence were factors that hindered young women from leaving or prosecuting a violent husband, who provided the food for the family 35.…”

“…The findings suggested that the women with grade 7–10 education were 1.5-fold more likely to experience IPV compared with their counterparts with no education 34. Studies from Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana similarly suggested that a high level of education placed women at increased risk for psychological abuse 17 35. In a study from Botswana, the unequal standard of knowledge between partners put young women at risk of violence, as the male partner might feel inferior and inflict violence to demonstrate that he is still superior even with a low level or without any education.…”