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How gender- and violence-related norms affect self-esteem among adolescent refugee girls living in Ethiopia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 January 2018

L. Stark*
Affiliation:
Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 60 Haven Ave B-4 Suite 432, New York, NY, USA
K. Asghar
Affiliation:
Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 60 Haven Ave B-4 Suite 432, New York, NY, USA
I. Seff
Affiliation:
Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 60 Haven Ave B-4 Suite 432, New York, NY, USA
B. Cislaghi
Affiliation:
Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UK
G. Yu
Affiliation:
Department 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, USA
T. Tesfay Gessesse
Affiliation:
Independent Consultant, Mekele, Ethiopia
J. Eoomkham
Affiliation:
The International Rescue Committee, TK International Bldg. 6th Floor, Bole Rd, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
A. Assazenew Baysa
Affiliation:
The International Rescue Committee, TK International Bldg. 6th Floor, Bole Rd, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
K. Falb
Affiliation:
The International Rescue Committee, 1730M St NW, Suite 505, Washington DC, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr L Stark, Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Avenue B-4, New York NY, USA. (Email: ls2302@cumc.columbia.edu)
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Abstract

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.

Information

Type
Original Research Paper
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2018
Figure 0

Table 1. Baseline characteristics

Figure 1

Table 2. Estimates of Rosenberg self-esteem scale at endline, multilevel regressions