How gender- and violence-related norms affect self-esteem among adolescent refugee girls living in Ethiopia
Background. Evidence suggests adolescent self-esteem is influenced by beliefs of how individuals in their reference group perceive them. However, few studies examine how gender- and violence-related social norms affect self-esteem among refugee populations...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425117000280/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1811156103110590464 |
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| author | L. Stark K. Asghar I. Seff B. Cislaghi G. Yu T. Tesfay Gessesse J. Eoomkham A. Assazenew Baysa K. Falb |
| author_facet | L. Stark K. Asghar I. Seff B. Cislaghi G. Yu T. Tesfay Gessesse J. Eoomkham A. Assazenew Baysa K. Falb |
| author_sort | L. Stark |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Background.
Evidence suggests adolescent self-esteem is influenced by beliefs of how individuals in their reference group perceive them. However, few studies examine how gender- and violence-related social norms affect self-esteem among refugee populations. This paper explores relationships between gender inequitable and victim-blaming social norms, personal attitudes, and self-esteem among adolescent girls participating in a life skills program in three Ethiopian refugee camps.
Methods.
Ordinary least squares multivariable regression analysis was used to assess the associations between attitudes and social norms, and self-esteem. Key independent variables of interest included a scale measuring personal attitudes toward gender inequitable norms, a measure of perceived injunctive norms capturing how a girl believed her family and community would react if she was raped, and a peer-group measure of collective descriptive norms surrounding gender inequity. The key outcome variable, self-esteem, was measured using the Rosenberg self-esteem scale.
Results.
Girl's personal attitudes toward gender inequitable norms were not significantly predictive of self-esteem at endline, when adjusting for other covariates. Collective peer norms surrounding the same gender inequitable statements were significantly predictive of self-esteem at endline (ß = −0.130; p = 0.024). Additionally, perceived injunctive norms surrounding family and community-based sanctions for victims of forced sex were associated with a decline in self-esteem at endline (ß = −0.103; p = 0.014). Significant findings for collective descriptive norms and injunctive norms remained when controlling for all three constructs simultaneously.
Conclusions.
Findings suggest shifting collective norms around gender inequity, particularly at the community and peer levels, may sustainably support the safety and well-being of adolescent girls in refugee settings.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:45:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-454bcf8d914845288732f9ec4d728063 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-4251 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:45:58Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-454bcf8d914845288732f9ec4d7280632023-03-09T12:35:37ZengCambridge University PressCambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health2054-42512018-01-01510.1017/gmh.2017.28How gender- and violence-related norms affect self-esteem among adolescent refugee girls living in EthiopiaL. Stark0K. Asghar1I. Seff2B. Cislaghi3G. Yu4T. Tesfay Gessesse5J. Eoomkham6A. Assazenew Baysa7K. Falb8Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 60 Haven Ave B-4 Suite 432, New York, NY, USADepartment of Population and Family Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 60 Haven Ave B-4 Suite 432, New York, NY, USADepartment of Population and Family Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 60 Haven Ave B-4 Suite 432, New York, NY, USADepartment of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UKDepartment of Population and Family Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 60 Haven Ave B-4 Suite 432, New York, NY, USA New York University College of Nursing, 433 First Avenue, New York, NY, USAIndependent Consultant, Mekele, EthiopiaThe International Rescue Committee, TK International Bldg. 6th Floor, Bole Rd, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaThe International Rescue Committee, TK International Bldg. 6th Floor, Bole Rd, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaThe International Rescue Committee, 1730M St NW, Suite 505, Washington DC, USA Background. Evidence suggests adolescent self-esteem is influenced by beliefs of how individuals in their reference group perceive them. However, few studies examine how gender- and violence-related social norms affect self-esteem among refugee populations. This paper explores relationships between gender inequitable and victim-blaming social norms, personal attitudes, and self-esteem among adolescent girls participating in a life skills program in three Ethiopian refugee camps. Methods. Ordinary least squares multivariable regression analysis was used to assess the associations between attitudes and social norms, and self-esteem. Key independent variables of interest included a scale measuring personal attitudes toward gender inequitable norms, a measure of perceived injunctive norms capturing how a girl believed her family and community would react if she was raped, and a peer-group measure of collective descriptive norms surrounding gender inequity. The key outcome variable, self-esteem, was measured using the Rosenberg self-esteem scale. Results. Girl's personal attitudes toward gender inequitable norms were not significantly predictive of self-esteem at endline, when adjusting for other covariates. Collective peer norms surrounding the same gender inequitable statements were significantly predictive of self-esteem at endline (ß = −0.130; p = 0.024). Additionally, perceived injunctive norms surrounding family and community-based sanctions for victims of forced sex were associated with a decline in self-esteem at endline (ß = −0.103; p = 0.014). Significant findings for collective descriptive norms and injunctive norms remained when controlling for all three constructs simultaneously. Conclusions. Findings suggest shifting collective norms around gender inequity, particularly at the community and peer levels, may sustainably support the safety and well-being of adolescent girls in refugee settings. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425117000280/type/journal_articleAdolescent healthconflictgender normsresilienceself-esteem |
| spellingShingle | L. Stark K. Asghar I. Seff B. Cislaghi G. Yu T. Tesfay Gessesse J. Eoomkham A. Assazenew Baysa K. Falb How gender- and violence-related norms affect self-esteem among adolescent refugee girls living in Ethiopia Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health Adolescent health conflict gender norms resilience self-esteem |
| title | How gender- and violence-related norms affect self-esteem among adolescent refugee girls living in Ethiopia |
| title_full | How gender- and violence-related norms affect self-esteem among adolescent refugee girls living in Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | How gender- and violence-related norms affect self-esteem among adolescent refugee girls living in Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | How gender- and violence-related norms affect self-esteem among adolescent refugee girls living in Ethiopia |
| title_short | How gender- and violence-related norms affect self-esteem among adolescent refugee girls living in Ethiopia |
| title_sort | how gender and violence related norms affect self esteem among adolescent refugee girls living in ethiopia |
| topic | Adolescent health conflict gender norms resilience self-esteem |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425117000280/type/journal_article |
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