Increased risk of child maltreatment and mental health problems among adolescents with restrictions regarding choice of future partner: Results from a Swedish school-based survey
2022 (English)In: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, ISSN 1403-4948, E-ISSN 1651-1905, Vol. 50, no 8, p. 1133-1139Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Background: Honour-related violence and oppression is a violation of human rights and a public health problem. Oppressioncan be manifested by not being allowed to choose future partners and can increase the risk of abuse and mental healthproblems.
Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate associations between restrictions regarding choice of future partner(RCP), child maltreatment and mental health problems among adolescents in Sweden.
Methods: The study was based oncross-sectional data, including a nationally representative sample of 4741 pupils from grade nine in primary school and secondyear in high school. Pearson’s chi-square tests and binary logistical regression analyses adjusting for socio-demographicfactors were conducted.
Results: RCP was significantly associated to child maltreatment, including poly-victimisation, andmental health problems. In the adjusted analysis, an increased risk for all types of maltreatment, poly-victimisation (adjustedodds ratio (aOR) 10.2, confidence interval (CI) 5.6–18.4), self-harm (aOR 1.9, CI 1.1–3.2) and suicide attempt (aOR 2.4,CI 1.3–4.7) were shown in adolescents exposed to RCP compared to non-exposed.
Conclusions: There is an increasedrisk of child maltreatment including poly-victimisation and mental health problems among adolescents exposedto RCP compared to non-exposed. The study emphasizes the matter as a public health problem requiringimmediate preventive measures to ensure the rights of children and adolescents.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2022. Vol. 50, no 8, p. 1133-1139
Keywords [en]
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, General Medicine, Honour-related violence and oppression, Restrictions regarding choice of future partner, Child maltreatment, Poly-victimisation, Mental health, Adolescents
National Category
Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:esh:diva-9229DOI: 10.1177/14034948211053138ISI: 000711134600001PubMedID: 34689634OAI: oai:DiVA.org:esh-9229DiVA, id: diva2:1606293
Note
Forskningsfinansiärer:
Stiftelsen Allmänna Barnhuset
Länsstyrelsen Östergötland
2021-10-272021-10-272022-12-05Bibliographically approved