Attitudinal Acceptance of Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health Outcomes for Female Survivors in Sub-Saharan Africa

This study examined how attitudes toward intimate partner violence (IPV) affect the mental health of young female survivors aged 13-24 in Nigeria, Uganda, and Malawi. Researchers found that experiencing IPV was linked to increased psychological distress and suicidal thoughts across all three countries. Surprisingly, among girls who experienced IPV, those who accepted or tolerated IPV showed better mental health outcomes and lower suicide risk in Nigeria and Malawi. The findings suggest that efforts to change attitudes about IPV need to be carefully designed, as simply reducing acceptance of violence may affect survivors differently.

Key points

• IPV exposure was associated with increased psychological distress and suicide ideation in all three countries studied
• Among IPV survivors, attitudinal acceptance of IPV was associated with improved mental health outcomes in Nigeria and Malawi
• IPV tolerance was linked to lower odds of suicide ideation following IPV exposure in Nigeria
• The relationship between violence exposure and mental health outcomes is complex and may be moderated by attitudes toward violence
• Programs reducing IPV acceptance must consider potential interactions with women's actual violence exposure

Limitations

The study is cross-sectional and cannot establish causality or determine whether acceptance of IPV is a coping mechanism that develops after exposure or a pre-existing belief. The findings are based on survey data from only three African countries and may not generalize to other regions or populations.