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CHILDHOOD EXPOSURE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS WIFE BEATING IN ADULT LIFE: A STUDY OF MEN IN INDIA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 November 2009

YING ZHU  and
KOUSTUV DALAL
YING ZHU
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
KOUSTUV DALAL
Affiliation:
Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Center for Medical Technology Assessment and Division of Social Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Linkoping University, Sweden
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Summary

This study examined men's justification of wife beating in relation to their perceived rights and autonomy using a nationally representative sample of 18,047 men in India with childhood exposure to parental violence. Five reasons for wife beating justification, four items of men's perceived rights, and five items of household autonomy were analysed using χ2 test and logistic regression. Among 18,047 participants, 67% justified wife beating. Low education, economic stress and being unmarried were generally more associated with justifying wife beating for all five reasons. Wife's refusal of sex and husband's final say on household autonomy are risk factors. Joint autonomy on household decision making and wife's autonomy on managing her own earnings are protective factors. Perceived relationship rights and autonomy are highly predictive of wife-beating justification for the men who have been exposed to parental violence during childhood. The study has significant implications for public health planners and education strategies.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 42 , Issue 2 , March 2010 , pp. 255 - 269
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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