Violent attitudes and mental health symptoms among mutually violent Ghanaian couples

Bibliographic Data

ID12936638
AuthorsMoisés Próspero (University of Utah, corresponding author), Peter Dwumah (0000-0002-0666-0064, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology), Kwadwo Ofori‐dua (0000-0002-1481-6639, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology)
Year2009
Volume1
Issue2
Pages16-23
Publication date2009-07-16
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Aggression Conflict and Peace Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1759-6599 • E-ISSN: 2042-8715
PublisherEmerald Publishing Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1108/17596599200900009
OpenAlexW2162522556
LanguageEN
Citations received9

This study examined sex differences in the prevalence of mutual intimate partner violence (IPV) and mental health symptoms among Ghanaian university students. Three hundred and fifty‐eight university students in heterosexual relationships were asked if they had experienced IPV, coercion, and symptoms of depression or post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as attitudes on the use of violence. Analyses were conducted separately for female and male respondents to explore sex differences in mutual violence and correlates of partner violence and mental health symptoms. Bivariate analyses found that both males and females reported strong correlations between IPV perpetration and IPV victimisation. Multivariate analyses found that among female respondents, their coercive behaviours, attitudes that accept violence and alcohol use were related to perpetrating against their male partner. Among male respondents, attitudes that accept violence and symptoms of conduct disorder were related to abusing their female partner. Additionally, results were that both females and males reported increased mental health symptoms if she/he reported childhood abuse and if her/his partner had attitudes that accepted the use of violence to achieve goals. Taken together, these findings suggest that the majority of couples experience mutual violence and that both females and males can have violent attitudes that accept the use of violence to control their intimate partners, which may also contribute to mental health symptomology

Coercion (linguistics · Domestic violence · Injury prevention · Medical emergency · Mental health · Occupational safety and health · Poison control · Psychiatry · Sexual coercion · Suicide prevention · Victimisation · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Clinical Psychology · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Medicine · Psychology