Exposure to Violence and Beliefs About Violence Against Women Among Adolescents in Nigeria and South Africa

Sunday B Fakunmoju,Shahana Rasool

doi:10.1177/2158244018817591

Sunday B Fakunmoju, Shahana Rasool

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018817591

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Abstract

Although adolescents’ exposure to violence and oppressive gender attitudes is prevalent, comparative knowledge across countries is sparse. This study examined exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV), family violence, and beliefs about violence against women (VAW) in a convenience sample of 2,462 adolescents from 44 schools in Nigeria and South Africa. Findings suggested that exposure to IPV, family violence, and beliefs about VAW differed by gender and country. Specifically, adolescents from Nigeria were more likely to be exposed to IPV and family violence and were more likely to endorse VAW than adolescents from South Africa. Male adolescents were more likely to endorse VAW than were female adolescents. Similarly, higher age, being male, being from Nigeria, being in a relationship, and greater exposure to family violence were associated with higher endorsement of VAW. Findings suggest that effective prevention programs are needed in both countries to mitigate exposure to IPV and family violence. Concerted efforts are also required to work with exposed adolescents to inhibit pro-VAW beliefs and stop the intergenerational transmission of violence. Additional implications of findings for policy, practice, and research are discussed.

Highlights

Adolescents in various regions of the world are directly and indirectly exposed to multiple forms of violence in multiple settings
The purpose of this article is to examine adolescents’ exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) and family violence and to determine the extent to which such exposure is related to endorsement of negative beliefs about violence against women (VAW) in Nigeria and South Africa
Exposure to IPV correlated with beliefs about VAW, r = .18 (p = .01), exposure to family violence correlated with beliefs about VAW, r = .22 (p = .01), and exposure to IPV correlated with exposure to family violence, r = .75 (p = .01)

Summary

Introduction

Adolescents in various regions of the world are directly (e.g., through victimization) and indirectly (e.g., through witnessing) exposed to multiple forms of violence (e.g., physical, emotional, sexual) in multiple settings (e.g., schools, family, community). Adolescents assimilate attitudes, beliefs, and values that encourage violent behaviors against women and girls through socialization at home and in the community, when exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) and violence against women (VAW). Knowledge about the attitudinal effects of adolescents’ exposures to violence across countries according to gender remains limited in the body of empirical research. The purpose of this article is to examine adolescents’ exposure to IPV and family violence and to determine the extent to which such exposure is related to endorsement of negative beliefs about VAW in Nigeria and South Africa.

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