Multi-level Risk and Protective Factors Associated with Domestic Violence Against Child Brides in Bihar, India: An Exploratory Study

dc.contributor.advisorMurphy, Christopher M Nnawulezi, Nkiru
dc.contributor.authorArora, Ishita Sunita
dc.contributor.departmentPsychology
dc.contributor.programPsychology
dc.date.accessioned2023-04-05T14:16:52Z
dc.date.available2023-04-05T14:16:52Z
dc.date.issued2022-01-01
dc.description.abstractResearch indicates that child marriage and domestic violence (DV) against child brides are widely prevalent in India, more so in some states than others. Prior studies documented the risk factors associated with DV experience of adult women (18-49 years) in Bihar; however, studies have not yet identified the multi-level risk and protective factors for DV specific to child brides' social ecology. This investigation uses the conceptual lens of intersectional feminist theory and empowerment theory within the social-ecological model of violence against women as an organizing framework to explore risk and protective factors for DV against child brides examining variables at the social, community, household and relationship, and individual levels of analysis. Cross-sectional survey data on 3,182 child brides that participated in the Understanding the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults (UDAYA) project conducted by the Population Council were analyzed. Fifteen potential risk factors and ten potential protective factors were examined as predictors of child brides' lifetime experience of DV. Risk factors that were uniquely associated with child brides' DV experience after controlling for other levels are – (a) dowry harassment and inequitable gender role attitudes at the social norm level, (b) lower caste at the community and systems level, (c) low SES, exposure to parental violence, interspousal communication on contraceptives and family planning, and reproductive coercion at household and marital relationship level, and (d) younger age at cohabitation at the individual level. In addition, higher maternal education, lower perceived self-efficacy, and higher social connections were protective against DV risk. The findings support intersectional feminist and empowerment theories of violence against women by demonstrating that many factors outside of child brides' control, such as caste, inequitable gender norms, exposure to parental violence, and reproductive coercion are associated with DV. Additionally, male backlash theory may help explain why higher interspousal communication and lower self-efficacy could be risk and protective factors for DV, respectively. The findings further demonstrate the need to develop gender-responsive DV prevention and intervention efforts to challenge the existing patriarchal socio-cultural norms to increase gender equity and reduce women's experience of forced early marriage and DV in Bihar and other states of India.
dc.formatapplication:pdf
dc.genredissertations
dc.identifierdoi:10.13016/m2yjzk-vwbs
dc.identifier.other12619
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11603/27311
dc.languageen
dc.relation.isAvailableAtThe University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Psychology Collection
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Theses and Dissertations Collection
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Graduate School Collection
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Student Collection
dc.sourceOriginal File Name: Arora_umbc_0434D_12619.pdf
dc.subjectBihar
dc.subjectChild Brides
dc.subjectDomestic Violence
dc.subjectIndia
dc.subjectRisk and Protective Factors
dc.subjectSocio-Ecological Factors
dc.titleMulti-level Risk and Protective Factors Associated with Domestic Violence Against Child Brides in Bihar, India: An Exploratory Study
dc.typeText
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