Domestic Violence Against Women in Cambodia: Husband's Control, Frequency of Spousal Discussion, and Domestic Violence Reported by Cambodian Women

• NCJ Number: 230073
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 25 Issue: 3 Dated: April 2010 Pages: 237-246
• Author(s): Sothy Eng; Yingli Li; Miriam Mulsow; Judith Fischer
• Date Published: April 2010
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study investigated the role of marital social relationships in domestic violence in a sample of married Cambodian women.

Abstract

This study sought to examine the effects of husband's control and frequency of spousal discussion on domestic violence against Cambodian married women, using the 2005 Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey data. The sample included 1,707 married women, aged 16-49 (M = 35.14). Structural Equation Modeling showed that husband's control positively predicted both emotional and physical violence. Frequency of spousal discussion positively predicted emotional violence, an association consistent with the idea that a husband holding patriarchal beliefs would interpret women's more frequent discussion as a violation of Cambodian norms for quiet, submissive wives. Frequency of spousal discussion and husband's control were positively correlated. The role of gender issues in husband's control and frequency of spousal discussion are discussed with respect to violence in the lives of Cambodian women. Tables, figure, and references (Published Abstract)