Effect of Enabling Resources and Risk Factors on the Relationship between Intimate Partner Violence and Generalized Anxiety in Ever-Married Women in Minya, Egypt Open Access

Shaikh, Annum Khan (2014)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/7w62f8633?locale=en
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Abstract

Background: Gender inequalities in health exist globally and particularly in the Arab world where the patriarchal structures in place affect gender roles and power. While physical health manifestations may be easier to detect and are perceived to be important in the community, mental health manifestations often receive little attention. The effect of intimate partner violence (IPV) on mental health remains largely understudied in the Arab world. In this study, we conceptualized a model depicting the enabling resources and risk factors that may mitigate or moderate the effect of IPV on generalized anxiety in ever-married women in Minya, Egypt. We hypothesized that human, social and economic enabling resources would mitigate the effect of IPV on anxiety, whereas risk factors such as childhood exposure to trauma would exacerbate the effect.

Methods: Using data from 608 women who took part in the 2005 Egyptian Demographic Health Survey (EDHS) and a 2012 follow-up survey in rural Minya, linear reduced-form (without moderators) and multiple full-form mediation regression models were created to assess the influence of these moderators on generalized anxiety in 2012, associated with IPV.

Results: Proximity to natal kin, prior schooling, and engagement in market work 12 months prior to marriage all had a protective effect on generalized anxiety associated with IPV. Childhood abuse from mother also had a protective effect on this relationship. Childhood abuse from brother, a patriarchal model in the family, appeared to be protective against anxiety when no IPV was present but had an exacerbating effect in the presence of exposure to IPV.

Conclusion: Overall, women's access to education, work before marriage, and continued social support from her natal kin are imperative for their mental health, particularly lower generalized anxiety. Empowerment programs can encourage women to attend school and engage in market or subsistence work, while also suggesting strategies to improve relationship of women with natal kin.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction........................................1

Methods.............................................3

Results...............................................7

Discussion...........................................13

References..........................................15

Appendices..........................................18

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