Relationship Between Violence Against Women, Social Support, Self-Esteem, and Mental Health in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

• Published in: Journal of interpersonal violence 2024-01, Vol.39 (1-2), p.431-457
• Main Authors: Alquaiz, Aljohara M., Kazi, Ambreen, Almeneessier, Aljohara, Alhalal, Eman, Almuneef, Maha, AlHabib, Yara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Females; Gender-based violence; Health services; Humans; Mental Health; Psychological distress; Saudi Arabia - epidemiology; Self esteem; Social Support; Structural equation modeling; Structural Equation Models; Surveys and Questionnaires; Violence; Violence against women
• ISSN: 0886-2605; 1552-6518
• DOI: 10.1177/08862605231197135

The objectives of this study were to measure the prevalence of mental distress and to explore the relationship between violence against women (VAW), social support, self-esteem, and mental distress in women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire-guided, cross-sectional, interview-based study was conducted with 1,932 women, in primary healthcare centers. Around 29% reported moderate to severe distress levels, whereas 40% of women reported lifetime exposure to at least one type of violence. Linear regression analysis found that VAW was positively associated with mental distress with a unit increase associated with a 0.13 (0.58, 1.15) increase in distress level, whereas, for both social support and self-esteem, a unit increase in violence was associated with −0.23 (−0.47, −0.32) and −0.22 (−0.49, −0.33) unit decrease in the mental distress. Structural equation modeling found that violence had direct significant negative effects on social support (β = −.156, p